MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Representative Compretta

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID TO ESTABLISH A SMOKING CESSATION TREATMENT PROGRAM AND CONTRACT WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE SMOKING CESSATION TREATMENT THERAPIES FOR PERSONS WITH INCOMES OF UP TO 300% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL; TO SPECIFY CERTAIN CRITERIA TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SMOKING CESSATION TREATMENT PROGRAM BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHO CONTRACT WITH THE DIVISION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COSTS OF THE SMOKING CESSATION TREATMENT PROGRAM SHALL BE FUNDED FROM MONIES APPROPRIATED FROM THE HEALTH CARE EXPENDABLE FUND; TO REQUIRE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THE SMOKING CESSATION TREATMENT PROGRAM TO MAKE CERTAIN REPORTS TO THE DIVISION REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN AND RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM; TO DIRECT THE DIVISION TO MAKE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE SMOKING CESSATION TREATMENT PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Division of Medicaid shall establish a smoking cessation treatment program and contract with hospitals, clinics, physicians, dentists and other health care providers licensed in this state to provide smoking cessation treatment therapies for persons with incomes of up to three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level.

(2) Any hospital, clinic, physician, dentist or other health care provider submitting a bid for a contract under subsection (1) of this section shall include the following criteria in the bid:

(a) A health care provider will supervise the smoking cessation treatment program;

(b) An applicant will pay a Twenty-five Dollar ($25.00) fee to cover the cost of an evaluation for the smoking cessation treatment program;

(c) The program will include counseling and prescription drugs indicated for smoking cessation treatment;

(d) A program participant will be permitted to participate in the program only once a year with a maximum of ten (10) consecutive weeks of treatment; and

(e) The fees charged for the smoking cessation treatment program will include a fee for one (1) office visit every other week and a reimbursement for prescriptions issued and signed by an authorized prescriber within the scope of his or her professional practice.

(3) The cost of the smoking cessation treatment program, excluding the evaluation fee in subsection (2) of this section, shall be funded from monies appropriated from the Health Care Expendable Fund established under Section 43-13-407 and from any other funds appropriated to or otherwise made available to the Division of Medicaid for the purpose of the program.

(4) The health care providers in the smoking cessation treatment program shall annually report the results of treatment to the Division of Medicaid, and shall include the number of participants treated and the number of participants who quit smoking.

(5) The Division of Medicaid shall submit a report on the smoking cessation treatment program to the Legislature before January 1, 2001.

(6) The Division of Medicaid shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

(7) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2001.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.