Medicare Coverage Expanded to Help Cigarette Smokers Quit
August 31st, 2010 - 9:36 pm ICT by Angela Kaye MasonAug 31 (THAINDIAN NEWS) According to the ‘Associated Press’, “Even though they’ve lived with the health warnings much of their lives and doubtless seen the ill effects on friends, relatives and even themselves, about 4.5 million older Americans continue to smoke.” This should clearly show the addictive quality which tobacco has, and how difficult it can be to quit.
Until now, only private insurance companies covered any type of smoking cessation aide, but now Medicare has stepped up to the plate, and is going to provide counseling for those patients who wish to quit smoking, but cannot seem to do so on their own. The potential money saved by the health care insurer in those patients who do quit would be well worth the amount spent to help them quit.
According to Medicare’s chief medical officer, it is never to late to benefit from quitting. “The elderly can respond to smoking cessation counseling even if they have been smoking for 30 years or more,” Straube explains. “We do know we can see a reduction in the death rate and complications from smoking-related illnesses.” Not only cancer, heart disease and lung problems, which can kill, but also gastric reflux, osteoporosis and other ailments that undermine quality of life.
Drugs to help smokers quit, and counseling for patients who have an illness because of smoking is already available, but now Medicare will expand their services and cover up to eight sessions each year with a counsellor for those who need the help to quit.
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