Are you writing off tobacco cessation counseling as non-payable? If so, it's time to change your gear.

Previously, CMS only covered 99406-99407 for a beneficiary with a tobacco-related disease or with symptoms of one. However, the agency recently announced that under new coverage, any new smoker covered by Medicare will be able to get tobacco cessation counseling from a qualified doctor or other Medicare-approved practitioner who can work with them to prevent them from using tobacco.

For quite some time, many tobacco users with Medicare coverage were denied access to evidence-based tobacco cessation counseling. Most Medicare beneficiaries want to do away with their tobacco use. At present, older adults and other Medicare beneficiaries can get the help they require to overcome tobacco dependence successfully.

The just-in tobacco cessation counseling coverage expansion will apply to services under Medicare Part B and Part A. The new benefit will encompass two individual tobacco cessation counseling attempts a year. Each attempt may cover up to four sessions, with a total annual advantage, thus covering up to eight sessions per Medicare patient who makes use of tobacco.

Older adults and other Medicare beneficiaries can be doing well in their fight to put a stop on tobacco as long as they have the proper resources available. CMS' decision will assure that beneficiaries can access that help from physicians and other Medicare-recognized practitioners.

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