Apparently Scrooge was otherwise occupied this Christmas; at least the Pecksniffs can always be counted on to make a visit.
Posted on 12/25/2004 10:37:36 AM PST by SheLion
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to provide new coverage allowing certain Medicare beneficiaries who smoke to receive counseling services that will help them quit the habit.
"We're building on our efforts to help America's seniors help themselves to quit smoking and live longer," Secretary Thompson said. "This new benefit, focused on treating seniors' smoking related diseases, will go a long way toward reducing their risk of dying prematurely. The combination of lives lost, unnecessarily, and the cost of treating smoking-related diseases makes our investment in smoking cessation benefits all that more important. It's never too late to benefit from quitting smoking."
An estimated 9.3 percent of those age 65 and older smoke cigarettes. About 440,000 people die annually from smoking related disease, with 300,000 of those deaths in those 65 and older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2002 that 57 percent of smokers age 65 and over reported a desire to quit. Currently, about 10 percent of elderly smokers quit each year, with 1 percent relapsing.
"The evidence available fully supports the hope that seniors at risk of the diseases caused by smoking can quit, given the right assistance," CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. said. "As we add the 'Welcome to Medicare' exam and other preventive benefits and drug coverage, this is another step in using the medical evidence to turn Medicare into a prevention- oriented program."
The proposal to cover smoking cessation counseling comes in response to a June 2004 request from the Partnership for Prevention (PFP). The PFP requested CMS open a national coverage decision to consider coverage of tobacco cessation counseling as detailed in the HHS Public Health Service (PHS) 2000 Clinical Practice Guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence.
The guideline has been endorsed by many health care and professional organizations. Based on the evidence reflected in the guideline, CMS proposes to extend smoking cessation coverage to beneficiaries who smoke and have been diagnosed with a smoking related disease or are taking certain drugs whose metabolism is affected by tobacco use. This announcement builds on a series of HHS initiatives designed to help Americans quit smoking, including the opening of a new national quitline (1-800-QUITNOW) and designating all HHS campuses tobacco-free.
While many may think those who quit smoking at age 65 or older fail to reap the health benefits of abstinence from tobacco, the U.S. Surgeon General has reported that the benefits of cessation do extend to quitting at older ages. Smoking cessation in older adults leads to significant risk reduction and other health benefits, even in those who have smoked for years.
The coverage decision involves Medicare beneficiaries who have an illness caused or complicated by smoking, including heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, lung disease, weak bones, blood clots, and cataracts -- the diseases that account for the bulk of Medicare spending today. It also applies to beneficiaries who take any of the many medications whose effectiveness is complicated by smoking -- including insulins and medicines for high blood pressure, seizures, blood clots and depression.
"The best way to prevent the serious health problems caused by tobacco is never to start using it. Millions of our beneficiaries have smoked for many years, and are now experiencing the heart problems, lung problems, and many other often-fatal diseases that smoking can cause. It's really hard to quit, but we are going to do everything we can to help," said Dr. McClellan. "I especially want to urge smokers on Medicare who are just starting to experience heart problems or lung problems or high blood pressure to take advantage of this new help -- and more is coming."
Medicare's upcoming prescription drug benefit will cover smoking cessation treatments that are prescribed by a physician.
CMS Chief Medical Officer Sean Tunis, M.D., said, "Federal policy has acknowledged tobacco as the number one cause of preventable death for decades now, and CMS has taken the lead in implementing coverage policy for our seniors to deal directly with this critical health problem."
In 1993, smoking cost the Medicare program about $14.2 billion, or approximately 10 percent of Medicare's total budget. On average, nonsmokers survived 1.6 - 3.9 years longer than those who have never smoked.
The proposed new coverage policy is available for review at the CMS coverage Web site (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/coverage). The posting of this proposed coverage policy marks the beginning of a 30-day public comment period. After close of the comment period, CMS will have 60 days to review the comments and issue a final policy.
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
You know, I've had a wonderful evening...it's our anniversary, 34th, the kids and grandkids are here, I made filets mignon and stuffed portobellos, we taste-tested some nice Aussie and Italian wines, the kids are all piled on the bed with the big mastiff puppy, they're watching "A Knight's Tale" with Grampa, DIL and daughter are in doing dishes, the guys are talking...Christmas decorations, family prayers...
I'm as close to heaven as I can get, on this earth, right this moment. Name-calling anti-smoking bigots are so much dirt to me, right now. They don't answer questions, they sling around taxpayer money like it grows on trees, and they have this supercilious "Why aren't YOU perfect like me, you stinky sick addict trash?" attitude...
When they learn to see smokers as human beings with rights and a habit that they personally have a problem with, for NO GOOD REASON, then I might actually care what they think. Until then, not a chance.
Happy New Year to you, my dear FRiend. May you be blessed with every good thing, and a whole lot of fun. ;-D
I'm sorta jumping in here - but the death of Reggie White and his young age (a year younger than me) and all this nonsense I've read about blah-blah-blah whatever caused it (not necessarily on this thread, but others)compelled me.
All I can say is when the Lord decides he wants us back, he's going to take us.
Last week a friend of mine had to explain to her son why his friend wouldn't be in school any more. My friend's son was out sick that day and so didn't witness his classmate have a heart attack in class.......2nd grade.
Smoking, drugs, alcohol..........none of it had anything to do with that child's death. And thankfully, for the sake of this child's parents', it can not be blamed on second hand smoke because they don't smoke.
I've had it up to here (hand at eye level) with the constant blame of every single illness on smoking.
344.040 Discrimination by employers. It is an unlawful practice for an employer: (1) To fail or refuse to hire, or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of the individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age forty (40) and over, because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, or because the individual is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking; (2) To limit, segregate, or classify employees in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect status as an employee, because of the individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age forty (40) and over, because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, or because the individual is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking; or (3) To require as a condition of employment that any employee or applicant for employment abstain from smoking or using tobacco products outside the course of employment, as long as the person complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking. Effective: July 15, 1994 History: Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 378, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1994. – Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 282, sec. 5, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 388, sec. 2, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 245, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 255, sec. 3. -- Created 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 2, Art. 3, sec. 302.
Apparently Scrooge was otherwise occupied this Christmas; at least the Pecksniffs can always be counted on to make a visit.
addiction is based in rationalization
Or is it a habit?
My question is how many smokers would like their children or grandchildren to take up the habit?
I'm not playing any games. I'm challenging you. Evidently, you don't accept.
What's the safe dose of exposure to environmental cigarette smoke?
The shame is that not all States have that clause.
For example, in delaware that clause holds for state employees, but is not extended to the private sector.
The reason is because it was an executive order by the Governor, and not a statute enacted by the Legislature.
I don't know which is worse.
Your posting that cigarette smoking is harmless habit with no real consequences.
Or exploiting the unfortunate death of Reggie White to support your arguments.
There's a big difference between being taken unexpectedly by a heart attack, and killing yourself with with a deadly addiction.
You say: I don't know which is worse.
And claim she posts that: cigarette smoking is harmless habit with no real consequences
without any proof of such claim.
That Sir/Madam is offensive.
I have been posting to/with sheLion for years and I have never encountered a post where she, myself, or anyone else I know for that matter, have ever made any such claim.
Until you provide fact to back up your delusion I suggest you desist in your false statements.
You're hysterical. Slap yourself. Come back when you can reason.
Forgive Shelion. She is obviously deeply conflicted over this subject.
Perhaps she thinks that lashing out in every direction at those who are trying to help her, hides the fact that she indeed is worried over the ultimate consequences of smoking.
Even the SheLion has the literatary ability to read warnings on cigarette packs about cancer and emphysema etc.
The same people who realize full well that global warming is a wealth-redistribution scam designed to handicap the US at the expense of 3rd world tin-pot dictators FAIL to understand the exact same politicization of medical research regarding tobacco.
Well if SheLion admits she believes that cigarette smoking is a harmful habit with real consequences then I will be MORE THAN GLAD to admit I misjudged her.
In fact, we would have no disagreement at all!
That would be nice:)
Or when I can pick myself up after rolling on the floor laughing at these posts. You are too funny Judith.
You obviously just jumped on the ban(d) wagon.............
we may smoke cigarettes - but we sure aren't stupid.
You made a declarative statement of what someone has stated, yet are looking for an admission to an entirely different statement. That doesn't cut it.
You are the accuser - it is your responsibility to prove your case.
I could not agree with you more.
I'm not playing any games. I'm challenging you. Evidently, you don't accept.
Are you trying to make me laugh on purpose or what?
EVEN the the cigarette manufacturers ADMIT that smoking can cause cancer, emphysema and other diseases...ON THEIR CIGARETTE PACKS.
If you smoke you can read the warnings yourself.
Why are you arguing with me?
LIAR. I NEVER SAID THAT YOU FOOL. God, you need a girl friend. You are such a putz.
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