Researchers at RTI International Report New Data on Managed Care (Tobacco Cessation Treatment in Pregnancy: Insights from Florida Medicaid Claims Data): Managed Care

2026 JUL 15 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Fresh data on Managed Care are presented in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Tobacco use increases risk for serious pregnancy complications, increasing infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. Cessation treatments are safe during pregnancy, increase the likelihood of successfully quitting, and decrease risk of negative neonatal health outcomes.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from RTI International, “All Florida Medicaid plans cover evidence-based cessation treatments. This study analyzed Medicaid claims to better understand cessation treatment utilization for pregnant people enrolled in Florida Medicaid. We analyzed Florida Medicaid claims from 2018-2021 to assess utilization of tobacco cessation services among Medicaid beneficiaries with a delivery during the study period. We identified tobacco use status and perinatal episodes using diagnostic and procedural codes; we identified treatment utilization (counseling, pharmacotherapy) using procedural and prescription drug claims. We identified 46 512 deliveries for people who use tobacco during the study period, making up 17.5% of all deliveries; among them, 6.3% received Medicaid covered tobacco cessation treatment during pregnancy and 2.4% postpartum. Among those treated, counseling was the most prevalent treatment during pregnancy (61.2%) and pharmacotherapy (NRT and cessation medication) was the most prevalent treatment (75.8%) postpartum. Best practices indicate that clinicians should ask pregnant patients about tobacco use at every visit, document their status, and offer brief counseling and cessation treatment. Despite cessation treatment coverage by Medicaid, our analysis indicates that few clinicians and beneficiaries are using Medicaid coverage for cessation treatment during the perinatal period.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “These findings suggest an opportunity to increase utilization of covered cessation services for individuals who use tobacco who are pregnant/postpartum, reducing risk factors for morbidity and mortality.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Tobacco Cessation Treatment in Pregnancy: Insights from Florida Medicaid Claims Data. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 2026. Nicotine and Tobacco Research can be contacted at: Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England. (Oxford University Press - http://www.oup.com/; Nicotine and Tobacco Research - ntr.oxfordjournals.org)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Leah Sussman, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Additional authors for this research include Lindsay T. Olson, Margaret Moakley, Diana Poehler, Ben Allaire, Kay Roussos-Ross and Jaclyn M. Hall.

The publisher of the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research can be contacted at: Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England.

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