China News Service, Beijing, May 26 (Reporter Du Yan Zhang Ni) Is tobacco dependence a disease?

Can I be reimbursed for smoking cessation?

Today, the Beijing Smoking Control Association stated that tobacco dependence is a disease. It recommends that "tobacco dependence disease" be included in the scope of payment management of the medical security fund, so that smoking cessation medical services can be reimbursed, and it is recommended to explore smoking cessation services as eligible "Internet" +"Medical service coverage, exploring the scope of pilot work for promoting direct settlement of outpatient expenses across provinces.

　　May 31, 2021 is the 34th World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day. The theme of this year’s “World No Tobacco Day” is “Commit to quit smoking and share a smoke-free environment”. Its goal is to make a contribution to 100 million people worldwide in 2021. Commit to quit smoking efforts.

　　Cui Xiaobo, executive vice president and secretary-general of Beijing Tobacco Control Association, said at a symposium held today that China is the world's largest tobacco producer and consumer, as well as the world's largest tobacco victim.

There are currently 316 million smokers in China. Many smokers know that "smoking is harmful to health", but they still smoke.

　　Cui Xiaobo said through a list of data that smoking cessation policies have a major impact on smokers, and smoking cessation barriers are the problem that affects the actions of smokers.

　　Why not be reimbursed for quitting smoking?

He mentioned that tobacco dependence is actually a disease, and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) issued by the World Health Organization clearly defines tobacco dependence as a disease.

Imaging studies have found that the structure and function of the brain of tobacco-dependent patients will change, manifested as gray matter atrophy, abnormal frontal temporal lobe and limbic lobe nerve activity, and significant reduction in functional connectivity of the insula-related brain regions, proving that tobacco dependence is a kind of For chronic diseases, the lesion is in the brain, so smoking addiction is by no means a habit or hobby, but a chronic disease.

　　He said that with the development of evidence-based medicine in clinical medicine, there is sufficient evidence that smoking cessation is the preferred treatment for controlling chronic diseases; but smoking cessation is a very difficult process.

　　With the development of international clinical smoking cessation technologies and drugs, drugs to alleviate withdrawal reactions continue to appear, including varenicline recommended by the WHO, with relatively high effective rates.

The smoking cessation drugs that have been approved for use in China are: nicotine replacement therapy drugs (over-the-counter drugs), bupropion hydrochloride sustained-release tablets (prescription drugs), and varenicline tartrate (prescription drugs). Can be used as a self-funded medicine.

　　The State Council’s "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of the Use of Medical Security Funds" shall come into force on May 1, 2021.

The Beijing Smoking Control Association suggested that medical services for smoking cessation should be included in the payment scope of the medical security fund.

According to the conditions of various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, local management methods and reimbursement times and reimbursement ratios can be formulated.

　　At the same time, it is recommended that tobacco dependence diseases be included in the management scope of outpatient chronic diseases in accordance with the "Guiding Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Establishing and Improving the Employee Basic Medical Insurance Outpatient Mutual Aid Guarantee Mechanism" as a long treatment period, great health damage, and cost. The cost of outpatient care for diseases with a heavy burden is included in mutual aid coverage; personal account funds between family members can be used for mutual support.

　　The Beijing Smoking Control Association also suggested that smoking cessation drugs should be included in designated retail pharmacies, to support the settlement and dispensing of external prescriptions in designated retail pharmacies, and to give full play to the convenience and accessibility of designated retail pharmacies.

At the same time, it is recommended to explore smoking cessation services as a qualified "Internet +" medical service coverage.

Explore the scope of work that can be carried out to promote the direct settlement of outpatient expenses across provinces.

　　The Beijing Smoking Control Association pointed out that the "Healthy China "2030" Planning Outline" proposes that "by 2030, the smoking rate of people over 15 years old will be reduced to 20%", and it is important to explore effective ways to implement smoking cessation policies.

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