Public Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Tobacco Cessation

SB 798 requires Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) to cover individual and group counseling for tobacco cessation, starting October 1, 2026, subject to state budget and federal law. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees seeking to quit tobacco use by eliminating prior authorization requirements for cessation counseling and related products. The bill amends program rules to mandate this coverage under Section 15-103(a)(2)(xxix) and prohibits managed care organizations from blocking access to these services via prior approval. This policy change aims to remove administrative barriers to evidence-based tobacco cessation support for low-income Maryland residents.