Although smoking cessation programs are usually not covered benefits in either traditional insurance plans or managed care programs, there is growing evidence of their cost effectiveness. Recent studies have shown that physician counseling against smoking is at least as cost effective as several other preventive medical practices, such as the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension.1
Traditionally, smoking cessation programs have been estimated to cost about $2,000 per year of life saved. As a comparison, mammographic screening for breast cancer costs about $50,000 per year of life saved.2
1 Cummings et al. JAMA. 1989;261:75-79.
2 Marwick. JAMA. 1986;276:1291. |
