American Cancer Society Supports Closing Gap Between Effective Smoking Cessation Efforts and Health Care Coverage

American Cancer Society
Thursday, 8 November 2001

The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health organization, issued the following statement regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on state Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation treatments.

The report, released today, concludes that many states should be doing more to help Medicaid recipients quit smoking. Even though much progress has been made since 1998 when only 25 states provided coverage for treatments, only Oregon funds all of the cessation medicine and counseling services recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service in its clinical practice guidelines on treating tobacco use and dependence. Currently, seventeen states provide no tobacco treatment coverage of any type, while 34 states provide coverage for one or more over-the-counter products, prescription drugs or counseling services. Also, according to the study, a vast majority of pregnant smokers qualify for Medicaid coverage, however, only 13 states provide treatment to eligible women.

"This report could not have come at a better time. Next week the American Cancer Society will mark the 25th anniversary of the Great American Smokeout, the Society's signature event to help adults quit smoking. Our goal to reduce smoking dependence in the United States to 12 percent by year 2015 can only be achieved if people have access to affordable smoking cessation tools and treatments. Right now, approximately 50 million Americans are addicted to tobacco products. More than 70 percent of all smokers say they would like to break their addiction but have not been able to do so.

"Research consistently demonstrates a sharp increase in successful quit attempts among smokers who seek assistance. At the same time, the cost of smoking treatments and the lack of health insurance coverage are among the biggest obstacles to smokers who are looking for ways to quit. Greater coverage is likely to increase usage to effective treatments.

"The American Cancer Society acknowledges that smoking is a difficult addiction to stop, but is committed to helping people quit. That is why the Society also supports pending legislation in Congress to provide coverage for cessation treatments through Medicaid, Medicare and the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant Programs.

"Furthermore, in the best interests of protecting the public health, the Society supports state tobacco settlement dollars appropriated toward proven treatment and CDC-approved tobacco control programs to broaden efforts to help smokers quit and keep youth educated on the dangers of this deadly habit."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org