HHS Expands Medicare Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Counseling

Beginning next year, Medicare will pay for tobacco cessation counseling for all tobacco users covered by the federal benefit program. Under the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, certain preventive care services, such as tobacco cessation counseling, will be covered by Medicare at no cost to beneficiaries. The new benefits, which also include annual physical exams and certain screenings, take effect Jan. 1.