Reimbursement / Payment

AAFP Letter to Private Insurers -- A joint letter sent to health plans stating that physicians should be paid for treatment of tobacco dependence.
(3-page PDF file; About PDFs)

An Update on Tobacco Cessation Reimbursement -- Article from the May 2006 "Family Practice Management." Includes new information on coverage by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers.

Helping Smokers Quit: State Cessation Coverage -- A State Policy Trend Report from the American Lung Association.

Coding Reference -- A list of HCPCS, CPT and ICD-9 codes related to tobacco cessation counseling.
(3-page PDF file; About PDFs)

Medical Organizations Collaborate to Press for Private Payer Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Counseling, Pharmacotherapy -- An article in AAFP News Now about a letter sent to dozens of health plans stating that health insurance companies should include tobacco cessation counseling and associated pharmacotherapy in their standard benefit plan packages, and they should pay physicians fairly to provide those services.

Medicaid Reimbursement for Prenatal Smoking Intervention Influences Quitting and Cessation -- A 2006 research paper published in Tobacco Control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between levels of Medicaid coverage for prenatal smoking cessation interventions on quitting during pregnancy and maintaining cessation after delivery.

Reimbursement for Smoking Cessation Therapy: A Healthcare Practitioner's Guide -- This guide from PACT (Professional Assisted Cessation Therapy) provides information to healthcare providers and their administrative staffs on how to obtain reimbursement for smoking cessation treatment and counseling. It contains advice for providers who wish to maximize benefits for smoking cessation, find their way around coverage deficiencies, and advocate effectively for adequate coverage.
(45-page PDF file; About PDFs)

State Tobacco Cessation Coverage Database -- An American Lung Association database that contains information on Medicaid coverage, state employee health plan coverage, insurance mandates for cessation, quitlines, and ALA programs for each state.

Time Is of the Essence: Coding on the Basis of Time for Physician Services -- Article from June 2003 "Family Practice Management." Explains how and when to code a visit on the basis of time.

Trends in the Delivery and Reimbursement of Tobacco Dependence Treatment
(5-page PDF file; About PDFs)