ALA's Report "Helping Smokers Quit"

Greetings!

Today, The American Lung Association (ALA) published its annual report on Helping Smokers Quit: Tobacco Cessation Coverage 2012. The report states that “Telephone quitlines are an essential part of any state’s tobacco cessation effort” and finds that “as more and more smokers want to quit, the majority of states are not providing adequate funding for their quitlines.” According to ALA, only Maine and South Dakota currently invest in quitlines at or above the recommended amount (of $10.53 per smoker).

The report also details changes in Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation, state employee health plan coverage, federal coverage and has a strong call to action for the coming year.

Important links:
full report
ALA’s press release