You asked for information about tobacco dependence treatment programs in Connecticut, specifically those targeted at Medicaid recipients. You are also interested in other states' activities on this.

SUMMARY

While most states' Medicaid programs cover some tobacco dependence treatment, Connecticut's Medicaid program does not. The state does fund several tobacco cessation activities, particularly through the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund and Department of Public Health initiatives.

MEDICAID

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the 51 state Medicaid programs (including the District of Columbia), 43 offered coverage for some form of tobacco dependence treatment to Medicaid enrollees in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid. Connecticut, along with Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee do not provide any coverage under Medicaid for tobacco dependence treatment.

Of the 43 state Medicaid programs offering tobacco dependence treatment, 41 placed some form of limitation on the coverage in the form of copayments (32 states), treatment duration (25), prior authorization (21), and requiring enrollment in behavioral modification programs as a precondition for receiving pharmacotherapy (13).Only two states, New Mexico and New Jersey, provide access to tobacco-dependence treatments without any limitations or restrictions.

The following table provides information on each state's Medicaid program coverage for various tobacco dependence treatments.

State Medicaid Program Coverage of Tobacco Dependence Treatments by Type of Coverage, 2009

OTHER CONNECTICUT PROGRAMS

Background

In 1999, the legislature established a Tobacco and Health Trust Fund with the purpose of creating a significant source of funds to (1) support and encourage development of programs to reduce tobacco abuse through prevention, education, and cessation programs; (2) support and encourage development of programs to reduce substance abuse; and (3) develop and implement programs to meet the unmet physical and mental health needs in the state.

The Trust Fund is a separate, non-lapsing fund that accepts transfers from the Tobacco Settlement Fund and may apply for and accept gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources. A board of trustees was established in 2000 to administer the fund. The board's statutory purpose is to select programs to receive money from the trust fund. Following are some highlights on smoking cessation initiatives from the “Fiscal Year 2010 Report of the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund Board of Trustees,” published in December 2009.

Quitline

“Connecticut Quitline” is a smoking cessation telephone service available to state residents that provides information and counseling about tobacco use. Callers can phone 866-363-4224 (866-END-HABIT) or 1-800-784-8669 (1-800-QUIT-NOW) seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. Written materials are also sent to callers, based on their readiness to quit. Separate materials are available for pregnant women who wish to quit smoking. Callers who are ready to quit smoking and are interested in further telephone-based service will receive up to five telephone counseling sessions and a “Quit Kit” containing informational and supportive materials.

Connecticut Quitline is funded by the Department of Public Health (DPH) and administered by Free and Clear, Inc., a commercial tobacco treatment provider based in Seattle, Washington. More information is available at http://www.freeclear.com/. As a result of RFP #2009-0916, issued on October 7, 2008, a contract was awarded to Free and Clear for an additional $1.5 million during the period of August 2009 through June 2010 for basic services, nicotine replacement therapy and pharmacotherapies, customer satisfaction and quit rate surveys, and marketing materials replacement.

Community-Based Cessation Programs

DPH developed and released an RFP on January 19, 2009 for community-based cessation programs. On May 29, 2009, it awarded contracts totaling $412,456 for the period of September 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011 to: AIDS Project New Haven ($70,290); Community Health Center, Inc. ($42,450); Fair Haven Community Health Center, Inc. ($66,712); Generations Family Health center, Inc. ($43,700); Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, Inc. ($94,230); Hospital of St. Raphael ($51,248); and Ledge Light Health District (443,826).

(Other tobacco use cessation programs operate throughout the state—see attached list.)

Cessation Programs for People with Serious Mental Illness

An RFP on smoking cessation programs for persons with serious mental illness was released in February 2009. In May 2009, a contract for $1,199,687 was awarded to CommuniCare, Inc. of Ansonia.

Counter Marketing Campaign

A contract was awarded in May 2009 to Cronin and Company of Glastonbury for $1,999,820 for the September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2011 period for a smoking counter marketing campaign. Generally, such a campaign involves television, radio, print, billboard and other media and venues.

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