“Smoking and Older Adults…Make a plan to quit today” launched the recent 35th Great American Smokeout, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s comprehensive new strategy “Ending the Tobacco Epidemic.” Per the DHSS press release, tobacco use is the leading cause of premature and preventable death in the U.S., responsible for 443,000 deaths each year. Most of these deaths are among people age 65 and older, and smoking has profound effects on the lives and health of older adults, dramatically increasing risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia and more.
If you have patients who are smokers with Medicare coverage and want to kick the habit, let them know that Medicare can help. They can receive tobacco cessation counseling from a qualified physician or other Medicare-recognized practitioner to help them stop using tobacco.
Who is covered? People with Medicare diagnosed with a smoking-related disease (e.g. heart, cerebrovascular and lung diseases, multiple cancers, etc.). Also, those who take medications whose effectiveness is complicated by tobacco use including – insulin and some medicines for high blood pressure, blood clots, and depression. Those diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use, or taking a medicine affected by tobacco, are eligible for up to 8 face-to-face visits in a 12-month period. (Co-payment and Part B deductible for counseling apply, so check the link below). For those who have not been diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use, starting January 1, 2011 smoking cessation counseling is a covered preventive service, with no fee for the counseling sessions. Help your patients make this a New Year’s resolution for 2011.
P.S. No matter the age, quitting smoking has significant health benefits. So if you or loved ones smoke, think about taking action too!
For more information, please visit
http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/manage-your-health/preventive-services/smoking-cessation.aspx
To learn more about the overall strategic action plan, please visit
http://www.hhs.gov/tobaccocontrol/index.html
For more resources and support related to quitting smoking, visit www.smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
