Prevention Matters

Health Beat notes that smoking has become concentrated among groups of people who are suffering from anxiety and other problems that make quitting and responding to outreach and education efforts much more difficult.

"Today’s smokers are among society’s most vulnerable citizens. They deserve help," they note. Meanwhile, they note that Medicaid, Medicare and private health programs are uneven in their coverage of tobacco cessation programs

That's among the many reasons Partnership for Prevention last year convened national leaders from the business, labor, healthcare and government communities to draft a plan to strengthen access to evidence-based tobacco cessation techniques. The plan, which has been endorsed by three former Surgeons General and three former HHS Secretaries is available online at http://acttiontoquit.com/ .