Minnesotans' tobacco use target of bill that gets health panel's OK

Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Heart Association says tobacco use kills nearly 6,000 Minnesotans each year.

“In this time of COVID recovery, it is important we make steps to improve access to care,” the association wrote in a letter to the House Preventive Health Policy Division. “With smoking identified as a risk factor for severe coronavirus-related disease and death, it is more urgent than ever to help people quit.”

Sponsored by Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven), HF3153 would expand Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare coverage to include treatment programs, drugs or other services that help people quit smoking or stop using other tobacco and nicotine products.

The division approved the bill 9-2 Wednesday and referred it to the House Health Finance and Policy Committee. The companion, SF3111, is sponsored by Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) and awaits action by the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.

“This bill is about supporting Minnesotans who want to quit tobacco, ensuring they face as few barriers as possible to quitting a highly addictive product,” said Morrison, who is a physician. 

She said there are 574,000 Minnesotans who smoke and nearly half of adult smokers have a household income of $35,000 or less, adding that people enrolled in public health insurance programs are twice as likely to smoke as the general population.

Morrison said MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance do offer some tobacco cessation services, and the bill would ensure comprehensive coverage for all services available because tobacco addiction is a “chronic, relapsing condition” that often requires multiple attempts to quit. 

The bill would also allow more providers trained in tobacco cessation counseling to be reimbursed, adding mental health specialists and drug and alcohol counselors to the list of those who can be compensated for the services.

Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) asked whether the bill would require people seeking help to make a copay.

“By having a copay you put a little bit of skin in the game,” Gruenhagen said.

Morrison said copays would run counter to one of the bill’s main objectives which is to remove barriers to quitting, and copays would also be prohibited by federal law in this case.

Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa) asked what the bill would cost and if it had a fiscal note. Morrison said there isn’t one available but it would be requested before the bill’s next committee stop, where the financial impacts are expected to be more fully debated.

“I’m really proud and excited to carry this bill,” Morrison said. “This could be a tremendous investment in the future of the health of our people and our state.”