Hello: I think readers will find the following message very interesting. I did!
Ron ===============<Forwarded Message>=============== On 3/22/2005, [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: PLPL> The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) today announced that it is PLPL> adding coverage for smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling for PLPL> certain beneficiaries that will help them quit the habit. PLPL> "Covering smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling for seniors has PLPL> great potential to save and improve lives for millions of seniors," said PLPL> CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "This is another step PLPL> in turning Medicare into a prevention-oriented health program." PLPL> The coverage decision, which was proposed for public comment in PLPL> December, involves Medicare beneficiaries who have an illness caused or PLPL> complicated by tobacco use, including heart disease, cerebrovascular PLPL> disease, lung disease, weak bones, blood clots, and cataracts - the PLPL> diseases that account for the bulk of Medicare spending today. It also PLPL> applies to beneficiaries who take any of the many medications whose PLPL> effectiveness is complicated by tobacco use - including insulins and PLPL> medicines for high blood pressure, blood clots and depression. PLPL> Public comments generally supported the approach that CMS proposed, PLPL> although some commenters preferred broader coverage of all tobacco PLPL> users. CMS modified the proposal in response to comments by removing a PLPL> requirement that providers have uniform training in smoking and tobacco PLPL> use cessation counseling, since no nationally accepted standards exist. PLPL> When standards do become available, CMS plans to consider whether to add PLPL> those requirements to its coverage policy. PLPL> "Millions of Medicare beneficiaries have smoked for many years, and are PLPL> now experiencing the heart problems, respiratory problems, and many PLPL> other often-fatal diseases that smoking can cause," McClellan said. PLPL> "It's really hard to quit, but we are going to do everything we can to PLPL> help. I especially want to urge smokers on Medicare who are just PLPL> starting to experience heart problems or lung problems or high blood PLPL> pressure to take advantage of this new step." PLPL> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that PLPL> 9.3 percent of Americans age 65 and older smoke cigarettes. About PLPL> 440,000 people die annually from smoking related disease, with 300,000 PLPL> of those deaths in those 65 and older. CDC estimated in 2002 that 57 PLPL> percent of smokers age 65 and over report a desire to quit. Currently, PLPL> about 10 percent of elderly smokers quit each year, with 1 percent PLPL> relapsing. PLPL> "The evidence fully supports the hope that seniors with diseases and PLPL> health effects caused by smoking and tobacco use can quit, given the PLPL> right assistance," McClellan said. PLPL> The CMS decision to cover cessation counseling comes in response to a PLPL> June, 2004 request from the Partnership for Prevention (PFP). The PFP PLPL> requested CMS open a National Coverage Decision (NCD) to consider PLPL> coverage of tobacco cessation counseling as detailed in the U.S. PLPL> Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service (PHS) PLPL> 2000 Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. PLPL> The PHS 2000 Guideline has been endorsed by many healthcare and PLPL> professional organizations. Based on the evidence that is reflected in PLPL> the guidelines, CMS had decided to extend smoking and tobacco use PLPL> cessation coverage to beneficiaries who smoke and have been diagnosed PLPL> with a smoking related disease or are taking certain drugs whose PLPL> metabolism is affected by tobacco use. This announcement builds on a PLPL> series of HHS initiatives designed to help Americans quit smoking, PLPL> including the opening of a new national quitline (1-800-QUITNOW) and PLPL> designating all HHS campuses tobacco-free. PLPL> While many may think that those who quit at age 65 or older fail to PLPL> reap the health benefits of abstinence from tobacco, the U.S. Surgeon PLPL> General has reported that the benefits of cessation do extend to PLPL> quitting at older ages. Smoking cessation in older adults leads to PLPL> significant risk reduction and other health benefits, even in those who PLPL> have smoked for years. PLPL> Medicare's upcoming prescription drug benefit will cover smoking PLPL> cessation treatments that are prescribed by a physician. PLPL> "Federal policy has acknowledged tobacco as the number one cause of PLPL> preventable death for decades now, and CMS has taken the lead in PLPL> implementing coverage policy for our seniors to deal directly with this PLPL> critical health problem," said Sean Tunis, M.D., CMS' Chief Medical PLPL> Officer. PLPL> Researchers estimate that smoking accounts for approximately 10% of the PLPL> total costs of the Medicare program or about $20.5 billion in 1997. On PLPL> average, nonsmokers survived 1.6-3.9 years longer than those who have PLPL> never smoked. PLPL> The final Medicare coverage decision is available on the CMS Website at PLPL> https://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdecisionmemo.asp?id=130 PLPL> To view this press release: PLPL> http://www.cms.hhs.gov/media/press/release.asp?Counter=1395 -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
