Medicare testing program on senior smoking

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has launched a pilot program to
test different approaches aimed at helping
older Americans stop smoking.

"Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death and illness in the United States, especially among seniors," notes HCFA Administrator Nancy-Ann DeParle.

Medicare spends some 10% of its budget treating smoking-related illnesses. It estimates that between 1995 and 2015, Medicare will spend $800 billion treating smoking-related medical problems.

Under current law, Medicare cannot pay for smoking cessation therapy. However, "if the three-year demonstration proves successful in identifying the most effective ways to help seniors stop smoking, this could prompt Congress to consider a Medicare benefit to cover smoking cessation," notes DeParle.