Medicare proposes 19% pay boost for doctors who counsel smokers

Medicare is considering a change that would pay doctors more to talk to patients about quitting smoking and drinking. Under the proposed rule, physicians who provide counseling on cigarettes and alcohol during routine visits would receive a 19% increase in reimbursement. Currently, many doctors skip such conversations because they are not well compensated. The higher payment aims to encourage more physicians to offer this help during appointments. The proposal targets two major health risks. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, while excessive alcohol use contributes to chronic diseases and accidents. By making the counseling more profitable, Medicare hopes to make quitting easier for patients. The change is not final. It is open for public comment before taking effect. If approved, it could reshape how primary care doctors address addiction.