CMS would like Medicare providers to join in communicating the message of this year's Great American Smokeout today, Thursday, November 17, 2011. The Great American Smokeout spotlights the dangers of tobacco use and the challenges of quitting, and has set the stage for change in social norms related to smoking-the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States-since 1977. Quitting smoking is the single most important action smokers can take to protect their own health and their families' health, as it can contribute to and worsen heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, macular degeneration, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and cataracts. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and generally diminishes the health of smokers.
Quitting tobacco use can be difficult, but Medicare can help through its coverage under Medicare Part B of tobacco-use cessation counseling for beneficiaries: * who use tobacco, regardless of whether they have signs or symptoms of tobacco-related disease * who are competent and alert at the time that counseling is provided * whose counseling is furnished by a qualified physician or other Medicare recognized practitioner Medicare Part B covers two tobacco cessation counseling attempts (4 intermediate or intensive sessions per attempt) per 12-month period. Both the coinsurance and deductible are waived. Medicare's Part D prescription drug benefit also covers smoking and tobacco-use cessation agents prescribed by a physician. What Can You Do? Talk with your Medicare patients about the smoking and tobacco-use cessation benefits Medicare makes available to them. Encourage your patients to participate in national health observances such as the Great American Smokeout that for many can be a first step toward quitting tobacco use. It's never too late to quit smoking, and with the cessation benefits provided under Medicare, and your recommendation, you can help your patients become tobacco free and reduce their risk of suffering from smoking-related diseases. Encourage those eligible to take advantage of Medicare-covered smoking and tobacco-use cessation and counseling services. For More Information: * The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Healthcare Professionals<http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/mps_guide_web-061305.pdf> (see Chapter 15) * Medicare Preventive Services Quick Reference Information Chart<https://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf> * "Counseling to Prevent Tobacco Use" MLN Matters Article (MM7133)<http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM7133.pdf> * Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling Services brochure<http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/smoking.pdf> * The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Webpage<http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp> * The Great American Smokeout official webpage<http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/StayAwayfromTobacco/GreatAmericanSmokeout/index> Thank you for joining with CMS to help increase awareness and educate about smoking, smoking and tobacco-use cessation, counseling, the Great American Smokeout, and related preventive health services now covered by Medicare. ------------------------------------------------- Each Office Visit is an Opportunity. Medicare patients give many reasons for not getting their annual flu vaccination, but the fact is that flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Each year, it is estimated that 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths and more than 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occur in people 65 years and older. Please talk with your Medicare patients about the importance of getting their annual flu vaccination. And remember, vaccination is important for healthcare workers too, who may spread the flu to high risk patients. Don't forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get the Flu Vaccine-Not the Flu. Remember - The flu vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. CMS has posted the 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine payment limits at http://www.CMS.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/10_VaccinesPricing.asp. Note that the flu vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug. For more information on coverage and billing of the flu vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational provider resources, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp and http://www.cms.gov/immunizations. ------------------------------------------------------ Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. If you know someone who would like to subscribe to a Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) provider listserv, go to (http://www.cms.gov/prospmedicarefeesvcpmtgen/downloads/Provider_Listservs.pdf). If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?INDEX) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.gov/ContactCMS). Thank you.
