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Tobacco and nicotine use places a $1.9 billion annual cost on Utah’s economy. Employers can play an important role in helping employees quit by covering and promoting proven cessation services, including counseling and medication. Supporting tobacco cessation can help improve employee health, reduce chronic disease burden, and lower long-term health costs.
Use our comprehensive resources to build a supportive, tobacco-free environment for your workforce. Whether you are looking to understand health plan cessation requirements, calculate your potential return on investment (ROI), or connect employees to quit services, we have the tools you need to succeed.
Explore our Tobacco-Free Workplace Toolkit:
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Health Plan Cessation Requirements
Understanding ACA Cessation Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury require non-grandfathered health benefit plans to cover specific preventive services without imposing any co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, or other cost-sharing requirements when delivered by in-network providers. Because tobacco use screening and cessation interventions have a highly recommended “A” or “B” rating from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), they are classified as mandatory preventive services.
Specific Coverage Requirements
According to the Utah Insurance Department, an insurer is considered compliant with these regulations if the health benefit plan covers the following services without cost-sharing or prior authorization:
- Screening for tobacco use.
- At least two quit attempts per year for those who use tobacco products.
- Four tobacco-cessation counseling sessions per quit attempt.
- Counseling sessions lasting a minimum of ten minutes each.
- Access to telephone counseling.
- Access to group counseling.
- Access to individual counseling.
- All FDA-approved tobacco-cessation medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) for a 90-day treatment regimen when prescribed by a health care provider.
Definition of Tobacco Products Under the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act, preventive benefits for tobacco screening and cessation apply to all lighted or heated tobacco products in any form. This includes cigars, cigarettes, pipes, hookahs, and any electronic formats such as e-cigarettes.
Read the complete Utah Insurance Commissioner Bulletin 2015-11.
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Utah Tobacco and Nicotine Quit Services
1.800.QUIT.NOWWayToQuit.org
You can provide your employees with direct access to Utah Tobacco and Nicotine Quit Services (Quit Services). These evidence-based resources are provided by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and are designed to help adults and youth quit smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco products for good.
Utah residents can use these comprehensive services up to twice per year, making it a powerful, cost-free addition to your existing benefits package.
Comprehensive support tools
Employees can customize their journey to becoming tobacco-free through a variety of flexible program options:
- One-on-one coaching: Personalized phone support from professional quit coaches.
- Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): Access to free patches, gum, or lozenges for eligible participants.
- Mobile and web tools: Online resources and text message support for real-time cravings.
- Tailored education: Materials customized to the individual’s specific needs and habits.
How it integrates with your benefits
The program is designed to complement existing employer-sponsored health plans while prioritizing those with the greatest need:
- For uninsured employees: Full access to the program’s coaching and NRT supplies.
- For insured employees: Participants receive an initial coaching session and a 2-week NRT starter kit. Quit Services will then coordinate a referral back to your company’s health plan to help the employee access their full, long-term benefits.
We are here to help.
We are here to provide you with the tools and resources that you may need. If you are unable to find the information you’re looking for, fill out our contact form at the bottom of the page.
In Utah, tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are not allowed indoors in places where the public has access. To submit an anonymous complaint about a possible violation, use the complaint form below.
Submit a Complaint
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Behavioral health settings
This guide will assist mental health and substance use treatment professionals to address tobacco and nicotine in a behavioral health setting.
Developed for a broad continuum of mental health and substance use treatment professionals, these materials are intended for direct providers, as well as administrators and behavioral health organizations. Many of the materials are also appropriate for primary care and other healthcare providers focused on substance use disorders.
Behavioral Health Settings Toolkit: Addressing Tobacco & Nicotine Use
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