Tobacco-cessation Services

(A) Introduction. MassHealth members are eligible to receive tobacco cessation counseling services described in 130 CMR 405.472(B) and pharmacotherapy treatment, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), in accordance with 130 CMR 406.000: Pharmacy Services. (B) Tobacco-cessation Counseling Services. (1) MassHealth covers a total of 16 group and individual counseling sessions per member per 12-month cycle, without prior authorization. These sessions may be any combination of group and individual counseling. All individual counseling sessions must be at least 30 minutes, except for intake sessions, which must be at least 45 minutes. Intake sessions are limited to two per member per 12-month cycle, without prior authorization. (a) Individual counseling consists of face-to-face tobacco-cessation counseling services provided to an individual member by a MassHealth-qualified provider of tobacco-cessation services as set forth in 130 CMR 405.472(B) and (C). (b) Group tobacco treatment counseling consists of a scheduled professional counseling session with a minimum of three and a maximum of 12 members, and has a duration of at least 60 to 90 minutes. (c) Individual and group counseling also includes collaboration with and facilitating referrals to other healthcare providers to coordinate the appropriate use of medications, especially in the presence of medical or psychiatric comorbidities. (2) The individual and group tobacco-cessation counseling services must include the following: (a) education on proven methods for stopping the use of tobacco, including 1. a review of the health consequences of tobacco use and the benefits of quitting; 2. a description of how tobacco dependence develops and an explanation of the biological, psychological, and social causes of tobacco dependence; and 3. a review of evidence-based treatment strategies and the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy; (b) collaborative development of a treatment plan that uses evidence-based strategies to assist the member to attempt to quit, to continue to abstain from tobacco, and to prevent relapse, including 1. identification of personal risk factors for relapse and incorporation into the treatment plan; 2. strategies and coping skills to reduce relapse risk; and 3. a plan for continued aftercare following initial treatment; and (c) information and advice on the benefits of nicotine replacement therapy or other proven pharmaceutical or behavioral adjuncts to quitting smoking, including 1. the correct use, efficacy, adverse events, contraindications, known side effects, and exclusions for all tobacco dependence medications; and 2. the possible adverse reactions and complications related to the use of pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence. (C) Provider Qualifications for Tobacco-cessation Counseling Services. (1) Qualified Personnel. (a) Physicians, registered nurses, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, psychiatric clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurse specialists, and physician assistants may provide tobacco-cessation counseling services without additional experience or training in tobacco-cessation counseling services. (b) All other providers of tobacco-cessation counseling services must be under the supervision of a physician, and must complete a course of training in tobacco-cessation counseling by a degree-granting institution of higher education with a minimum of eight hours of instruction. (2) Supervision of Tobacco-cessation Counseling Services. A physician must supervise all nonphysician providers of tobacco-cessation counseling services. (D) Tobacco-cessation Services: Claims Submission. A CHC may submit claims for tobacco- cessation counseling services that are provided by physicians, registered nurses, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, psychiatric clinical nurse specialists and physician assistants, and MassHealth-qualified tobacco-cessation counselors according to 130 CMR 405.472(B) and (C). See Subchapter 6 of the Community Health Center Manual for service codes.