Tobacco Control News
- Smoking Cessation Coverage Now Available for All Medicare Patients
- Lights Out for Light Cigarettes
- A World Without Tobacco
- Most states falling short on tobacco policies
- This Mother’s Day, Help Your Mom Go Smokefree
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Rhode Island
Grade: F
FY 2010 Tobacco Control Program Funding:
$1,855,248*
CDC Best Practice Rate: $15,200,000
$1,855,248*
CDC Best Practice Rate: $15,200,000
*Includes FY2010 funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thumbs down for Rhode Island for providing little funding for its state tobacco control program this year despite increasing its cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack.
Grade: A
Overview of State Smoking Restrictions:
Government Workplaces: Prohibited
Private Workplaces: Prohibited
Schools: Prohibited
Childcare Facilities: Prohibited
Restaurants: Prohibited
Bars: Prohibited (allowed in smoking bars)
Casinos/Gaming Establishments: Restricted
Retail Stores: Prohibited
Recreational/Cultural Facilities: Prohibited
Penalties: Yes
Enforcement: Yes
Preemption: No
Government Workplaces: Prohibited
Private Workplaces: Prohibited
Schools: Prohibited
Childcare Facilities: Prohibited
Restaurants: Prohibited
Bars: Prohibited (allowed in smoking bars)
Casinos/Gaming Establishments: Restricted
Retail Stores: Prohibited
Recreational/Cultural Facilities: Prohibited
Penalties: Yes
Enforcement: Yes
Preemption: No
Citation: RI GEN. LAWS §§ 23-20.10-1 et seq.; 23-20.9-1 et seq. & 23-28.15
Grade: A
Tax rate per pack of 20:
$3.46*
*On April 10, 2009, the cigarette tax increased from $2.46 to $3.46 per pack
Thumbs up for Rhode Island for increasing the state cigarette tax by $1.00 to $3.46 per pack, now the highest in the country.
Grade: B
Overview of State Cessation Coverage:
State Medicaid Program:
Medications: Coverage for the 7 recommended cessation medications* varies by health plan
Counseling: Covers individual and group counseling
Barriers to Coverage: All health plans require combination therapy; some plans have limits on duration, require co-payments and/or require prior authorization
State Employee Health Plan(s):
Medications: Covers NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT inhaler and NRT lozenge
Counseling: Covers individual and group counseling
Barriers to Coverage: Limits on duration, annual limit on quit attempts and co-payments required
Other Cessation Provisions:
Private Insurance Mandate: Yes
State Medicaid Program:
Medications: Coverage for the 7 recommended cessation medications* varies by health plan
Counseling: Covers individual and group counseling
Barriers to Coverage: All health plans require combination therapy; some plans have limits on duration, require co-payments and/or require prior authorization
State Employee Health Plan(s):
Medications: Covers NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT inhaler and NRT lozenge
Counseling: Covers individual and group counseling
Barriers to Coverage: Limits on duration, annual limit on quit attempts and co-payments required
Other Cessation Provisions:
Private Insurance Mandate: Yes
Citation: See Rhode Island Tobacco Cessation Coverage page for specific sources.
* The 7 recommended cessation medications are: NRT Gum, NRT Patch, NRT Nasal spray, NRT inhaler, NRT lozenge, Chantix and Zyban
