Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Office of Medicaid
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111
www.mass.gov/masshealth

MassHealth
Community Health Center Bulletin 59
September 2006




TO:	Community Health Centers Participating in MassHealth

FROM:	Beth Waldman, Medicaid Director 

RE:	Correction for MassHealth Tobacco Cessation Counseling Benefit Chart


Background

In June 2006, MassHealth published Transmittal Letter CHC-74 about the 
new tobacco-cessation benefit, effective July 1, 2006.  Attachment 1 of 
Transmittal Letter CHC-74 contained a chart titled “MassHealth Tobacco 
Cessation Counseling Benefit” that conflicted with the information in the 
regulations about the allowable size of a group-counseling visit.  The 
correct range is a minimum of three participants and a maximum of 12.  
The revised chart reflects the correct range.  Please update your staff as 
needed.
	
Questions

If you have any questions about the information in the bulletin, please 
contact MassHealth Customer Service at 1-800-841-2900, e-mail your 
inquiry to providersupport@mahealth.net, or fax your inquiry to 
617-988-8974.
  
MASSHEALTH
Community Health Center
Bulletin 59
September 2006
Attachment

MassHealth Tobacco Cessation Counseling Benefit 

MassHealth strongly encourages providers to inquire about all members’ smoking 
status
and recommend that they try to quit by referring them to the best available 
resource for
tobacco cessation counseling. Clinical evidence indicates that the best 
treatment outcomes are achieved when members receive a combination of tobacco 
cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy. This benefit was effective July 1, 
2006. 

Component
Duration
Limits
Intake/Assessment/Planning
Face-to-face intake, 
assessment, and treatment 
planning as a component of 
treatment

At least 45 
minutes
Maximum of one 
intake, assessment 
and treatment 
planning per course 
of treatment. Two 
such sessions are 
permitted per 12-
month cycle*
In-Depth – Individual
Face-to-face behavioral 
counseling for tobacco 
cessation
At least 30 
minutes
Maximum 16 
sessions per 12-
month cycle*

In-Depth – Group
Face-to-face group behavioral 
counseling for tobacco 
cessation

Minimum 
60 to 90 
minutes per 
group 
sessions, 
minimum 
of 3, 
maximum 
of 12 
participants 
per group 
session
Maximum 16 
sessions per 12-
month cycle*

   
* A total of 16 face-to-face counseling sessions, using any combination of 
intake/assessment/planning, in-depth individual or in-depth group counseling 
sessions are permitted for each member per 12-month cycle without prior 
authorization.