Insurance coverage of smoking cessation treatment for state employees

Am J Public Health. 2004 Aug;94(8):1338-40. doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.8.1338.

Abstract

Public health experts recommend that health insurance include coverage for smoking cessation treatment as an evidence-based strategy to reduce smoking. As employers, states can implement this policy for more than 5 million individuals nationwide. This study identified the extent to which states require smoking cessation treatment insurance coverage for their employees; of 45 states, 29 required coverage for at least 1 US Public Health Service (PHS)-recommended treatment, and only 17 of 45 provided coverage that was fully consistent with PHS recommendations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Counseling / economics
  • Drug Prescriptions / economics
  • Guideline Adherence / standards
  • Guideline Adherence / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Benefit Plans, Employee / organization & administration*
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Insurance Coverage / organization & administration*
  • Nonprescription Drugs / economics
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Smoking Cessation / economics*
  • Smoking Cessation / methods
  • State Health Plans / organization & administration*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • United States Public Health Service

Substances

  • Nonprescription Drugs