Last month, CMS announced plans to pay for Medicare beneficiaries to receive counseling to quit smoking. Minimal counseling is already covered at each evaluation and management visit. Beyond that, Medicare is proposing to cover two cessation attempts per year. Each attempt may include a maximum of four intermediate or intensive sessions, with the total annual benefit covering up to 8 sessions in a 12 month period. The practitioner and patient have flexibility to choose between intermediate or intensive cessation strategies for each attempt. CMS is requesting public comments by Friday, Jan. 21 on this proposed decision memorandum pursuant to Section 731 of the Medicare Modernization Act. After considering the public comments, CMS will issue a final decision memorandum. To view the draft decision memo, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdraftdecisionmemo.asp?id=130