Under-use of tobacco dependence treatment among Wisconsin's fee-for-service Medicaid recipients.

Abstract

Few Medicaid fee-for-service enrollees are receiving evidence-based treatment for tobacco dependence, the leading preventable cause of illness and death in Wisconsin. The 16,000 Wisconsin physicians caring for these patients are urged to intervene with every Medicaid patient who smokes. To assist in this effort, the Wisconsin Medicaid program's coverage for tobacco dependence treatment is explained and a series of myths are corrected.