A state anti-smoking campaign has helped 33,000 smokers who use the state’s medicaid program to quit, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Health officials are hailing the development as the first significant drop in smoking rates within that demographic to date.
Since the MassHealth tobacco cessation benefit was established in 2006, the number of MassHealth members who smoke has dropped by 26 percent. In the 12 months prior to the benefit going into effect, the smoking rate among MassHealth members was 38.3 percent, more than twice as high as the rate for the general population.
The percentage fell to 28.3 percent in 2008. Researchers found a smaller decrease in the smoking rate for other low income groups that did not have MassHealth coverage.
The MassHealth tobacco cessation benefit provides prescription and over-the-counter medication to members who want to quit smoking. The program also includes optional face-to-face counseling, with the goal of reducing smoking-related health care costs for MassHealth.
“Three out of four smokers say that they want to quit, but the cost of medications that help with cravings is a significant financial barrier to many low income people,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach. “The success of the MassHealth benefit shows that smokers will utilize such a benefit, and they will quit in large numbers with the appropriate supports.”
Smoking remains the number one preventable cause of illness and death in the state, officials said, adding that tobacco use is associated with $4.3 billion in excess health care costs in Massachusetts each year.
source : http://www.bizjournals.com
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