New York State Tobacco Use Treatment Benefits Information

In December 2016, New York State’s (NYS) Medicaid expanded its coverage of tobacco-use treatment benefits, making it easier for NYS Medicaid (including Medicaid managed care) recipients to access medication to help them quit smoking. However, many NYS health care organizations reported that despite the expansion, tobacco-use treatment prescriptions were constantly being denied by Medicaid.

CAI developed these tools to help health care organizations, Health Systems for a Tobacco Free New York grantees, and prescribers address this issue.

• Fact sheet: Addressing Tobacco Use Treatment Prescription Denials for New York State Medicaid Patients (570 KB PDF)
• “Dear Pharmacist” letter: Information for pharmacists about Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation medications (60 KB PDF)
• Chart: Writing Tobacco Use Treatment Prescriptions for New York State Medicaid Patients (920 KB PDF)

Acknowledgements

The Center for Health Systems Improvement would like to thank the following NYS tobacco control stakeholders for their assistance in developing these tools:

• New York State Department of Health Bureau of Tobacco Control 
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support
• New York State Office of Health Insurance Programs
• Health Systems for a Tobacco Free New York grantees