Medicare proposal would boost doctor pay for smoking and alcohol counseling by 19%

A proposed change to Medicare’s physician fee schedule would increase reimbursement for doctors who provide counseling on tobacco cessation and alcohol or substance misuse.

The proposal adds a 19% payment boost for visits that include counseling on quitting cigarettes or other tobacco products, as well as for assessments and interventions related to alcohol and substance use.

The change is intended to reflect the clinical intensity of these services and encourage more physicians to address these leading causes of preventable disease.

The proposal is part of a broader effort to prioritize cessation services, but it remains a draft within a 1,592‑page Medicare document and has not yet been finalized.