Year after year, quitting tobacco is one of the most common, but difficult to achieve, New Year’s resolutions. With that in mind, members of the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network (WTPPN) are encouraging Medicaid members to use the Medicaid Benefit to help them quit for good in 2017.

According to data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Medicaid members in Wisconsin smoke at nearly double the state average of 17%. However, help is available to assist them in quitting.

The odds of successfully quitting tobacco quadruple when you combine counseling and medications. Medicaid members can take advantage of the many FDA-approved quit tobacco medications that are covered by the benefit, including Chantix and nicotine patches and gum.

In addition to the covered medications, other important features of the benefit include:

• Repeated courses of treatment are allowed
• There are no co-pays for tobacco cessation
• Evaluation and management visits for tobacco cessation are covered

The benefits of quitting tobacco are numerous according to the WTPPN and they include improved breathing and stamina and lower risk for heart disease.

Quitting smoking is tough, but it gets easier with help. Taking that first step can be hard, but the benefits of quitting are many.

In addition to the Medicaid Benefit, Medicaid members and all tobacco users ready to quit can call 1-800-QUIT NOW for free quit tobacco help and medications.

For more information on how we’re working to improve health equity in Milwaukee please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WiTPPN/.

Sincerely,

Patricia Anderson-Wilson

WTPPN