A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The ``Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act'' seeks to amend the Social Security Act regarding Medicaid and CHIP. It requires these programs to cover comprehensive tobacco cessation services, including counseling and pharmacotherapy. The bill defines these services as diagnostic, therapy, and counseling, as well as prescription and nonprescription agents approved by the FDA. It mandates that these services be provided by physicians or authorized health care professionals following specific clinical guidelines. Additionally, the bill establishes a temporary 90 percent federal reimbursement rate for these services and outreach campaigns for a five-year period. Finally, it prohibits states from requiring prior authorization for tobacco cessation drugs.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes?
The bill increases federal reimbursement rates to 90 percent for Medicaid tobacco cessation services and outreach.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill expands access to tobacco cessation services and pharmacotherapy for Medicaid and CHIP recipients.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides crucial health services to Medicaid and CHIP recipients without cost-sharing.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Healthcare Coverage: Medicaid and CHIP recipients will have coverage for counseling and pharmacotherapy for tobacco cessation, including both prescription and nonprescription agents (Section 2, Section 3).
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Reduced Financial Burden for Patients: The bill prohibits cost-sharing, such as deductibles or coinsurance, for tobacco cessation counseling, pharmacotherapy, and related prescription drugs under both Medicaid and CHIP (Section 2, Section 3).
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Increased Access via Professional Services: Services can be provided by physicians or any other health care professional legally authorized under State law to furnish such services (Section 2, Section 3).
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Removal of Administrative Hurders: States are prohibited from requiring prior authorization programs for the coverage or payment of tobacco cessation drugs (Section 2, Section 3).
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Increased Awareness through Outreach: The bill requires states to monitor and promote these services through outreach campaigns aimed at eligible individuals and clinicians (Section 2, Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill increases federal reimbursement rates to 90 percent for Medicaid tobacco cessation services and outreach. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill expands access to tobacco cessation services and pharmacotherapy for Medicaid and CHIP recipients.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides crucial health services to Medicaid and CHIP recipients without cost-sharing. Would children be better off under this? — The bill enhances CHIP coverage for tobacco cessation services for children.
- 8/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland