Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Prevention Minnesota (Smoking Cessation)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke employs policy and community support, along with clinical, worksite and individual interventions. Phone-based cessation support is available at no charge to all Blue Cross members. A fax referral program also makes it easy for physicians, pharmacists and dental professionals to refer patients for quitting assistance. The plan rewards provider groups if they ask every patient about tobacco use and offer quitting assistance to anyone who says yes. A national best practices package encourages employers to cover the cost of quit medications for employees.
Results
- Tobacco use among members has declined significantly from 14.7% in 1999 to 12.4% in 2003 to 10.9% in 2007 (p <.01), resulting in 23,765 fewer smokers in the 2003 Blue Cross member population.
- For all plan types, cumulative total savings over five years were $126.8 million from reduced health care costs. Each 1% decline in smoking prevalence among adult members resulted in $55.1 million in health care costs savings each year for five years.
- Health care cost savings per additional nonsmoker over five years were $5,335.
***For further information, please contact Marc Manley, M.D., M.P.H., Vice President & Medical Director, Population Health, BCBS of Minnesota, 651-662-6356
Published: January 26, 2009
