AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
2002 APR 21 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CHA Health has announced it will help pay for nicotine patches worn by its members wanting to quit smoking.
The health maintenance organization, based in Lexington, Kentucky, hopes the upfront costs from covering the patches will produce bigger long-term savings as cigarette use drops among its membership.
Philip Hanus, director of CHA Health's pharmacy department, said smoking-related illnesses "drive a lot of our medical expense."
The new benefit was hailed by a top health official in Kentucky, where nearly one-third of all adults smoke cigarettes.
"Nearly half of Kentucky's smokers have tried to quit, so we are pleased to see this very positive beginning, and encourage other health insurers and employers to join CHA Health," said Dr. Rice Leach, the state's commissioner of public health.
"This kind of prevention activity can reduce the clinical and fiscal burden of tobacco-related illness in time."
CHA Health said it would offer the benefit on a one-time basis to its members who are enrolled in smoking-cessation programs.
Source: HighBeam Research, HMO offers benefit to help people quit smoking.