States Take Action

In the past five years, many states have added smoking cessation coverage to Medicaid benefits. In 2002, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dekota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin began providing coverage for smoking cessation counseling sessions for anyone covered under Medicaid, including pregnant women. In Rhode Island, Medicaid recipients are now covered for these counseling session if the person received Medicaid benefits through a managed care program. Seven other states have provided smoking cessation counseling session under Medicaid only for pregnant women.