Promoting Smoking Cessation in the Medicaid Program 2
Promoting Smoking Cessation in the Medicaid Program Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States, accounting for nearly one of every five deaths. It is responsible for nearly 35% of all cancer deaths, for nearly 80% of deaths related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it also contributes to early cardiovascular disease deaths. Smoking in the U.S. has attributed to an economic burden of nearly $193 million in direct medical costs. While the life-time prevalence rate for adult smokers in the U.S. population is about 20% of this rate is about twice as high among adults insured by Medicaid. [1-3] Smoking related medical costs are responsible for almost 11% of Medicaid expenditures, representing an estimated $22 billion in 2004. [4]…show more content… Stage 4: Compute the average cost of program benefits (medications and counseling) from administrative data. Adjust all costs and savings to dollars using medical price inflation data. Compare estimated costs and savings to compute return on investment. In researching numerous Medicaid reports, it is my conclusion that a disproportionate number of smokers in the United States are low-income and insured by Medicaid. I feel that comprehensive tobacco cessation efforts can reduce the prevalence of smoking in a high risk population and reduce net costs for the Medicaid program. Other things to consider, which I did not go into depth to discuss in this paper, would be to estimate potential health improvements or savings that might be associated with reduced second hand smoke exposure for family members or intrauterine exposure