The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) applauds the recent passage of Regulation 14, which requires that health insurers offer more options for tobacco cessation programs that are a covered benefit. It is expected that this new regulation will help Rhode Islanders be more successful in attempts to quit smoking.
“Each year, tobacco use claims the lives of more than 1,600 adult smokers in our state and adds $506 million to healthcare-related costs,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “Each person that is trying to quit is unique. By offering more variety in treatment strategies that are covered by health insurance, we are giving more options to help them succeed and be tobacco free.”
The Rhode Island Tobacco Control Program (RITCP) provides a Quitline service for Rhode Islanders (1-800-TRY-TO-STOP). RITCP also partners with the Rhode Island Health Centers Association to provide tobacco cessation services for the uninsured tobacco users in the state.
In addition, The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, a statewide cancer coalition funded by HEALTH, has a prevention workgroup whose objectives and strategies regarding tobacco are coordinated with RITCP’s Annual Action Plan.
Certain prescription medications and outpatient counseling will now be included as covered tobacco cessation benefits. In addition, the new regulation will: --Establish uniform standards for cessation treatment coverage --Include recent clinical practice guidelines in definition of cessation treatments --Improve transparency of tobacco cessation coverage for Rhode Island ’s insured population
For more information on the new regulation, go to: http://www.ohic.ri.gov/Regulation14Tobacco.php