The American Heart Association is supporting House Bill 5766 - legislation that will help smokers quit...for good. HB 5766 requires that smoking cessation programs be covered by private insurance. We know there is a quick return on investment for covering smoking cessation in Illinois. Not only will we save money, but we can save lives. Tobacco use treatment is ranked one of the most cost effective health services with the largest health gains, ranking right up there with immunizations.
Follow the link below to ask your Representative to support HB 5766 and help smokers quit for good:
Save Money, Save Lives by Helping Smokers Quit
HB 5766 would provide $500 in coverage for a tobacco use cessation program for a person enrolled in the plan who is 18 years of age or older. This coverage includes counseling and FDA approved pharmacological medications. Smoking-related health care costs total an estimated $4.10 billion with an additional $4.35 billion in lost productivity each year in Illinois.
In addition to cost, tobacco use is also the number one preventable cause of death and disease. Compared with non-smokers, smokers increase their risk of:
-Coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
-Stroke by 2 to 4 times
-Lung cancer by 23 times (men) 13 times (women)
Save Money, Save Lives by Helping Smokers Quit
Thank you for your support on this important health issue.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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