Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act

The Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act would require Medicaid (title XIX) and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (title XXI) to cover comprehensive tobacco cessation services. Coverage would include diagnostic assessment, counseling, behavioral therapy, and pharmacotherapy (including FDA-approved cessation medications and certain nonprescription products) when provided under a physician or other qualified health professional. The bill also creates a temporary boost in federal funding to support these services (a 90% FMAP for cessation-related expenditures for five years) and prohibits cost-sharing for these benefits. States would be required to monitor usage of cessation services and run outreach campaigns to raise awareness among both recipients and clinicians. The legislation also extends similar provisions to CHIP, providing a parallel set of coverage requirements, outreach funding, and no prior authorization for cessation drugs. The Act takes effect on the first day of the first fiscal year after enactment and includes protections ensuring coverage for individuals under 18 remains intact. In short, the bill aims to make quitting smoking more accessible and affordable for low-income Americans by expanding Medicaid and CHIP coverage for cessation services, offering generous temporary federal funding, and removing barriers like cost-sharing and prior authorization for cessation medications.