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ADDING UP THE NUMBERS In total, nearly $7.5 billion in excess health care costs and lost productivity cost can be attributed to smoking on an annual basis. This is an alarming figure. It highlights the urgency of the efforts to continue driving down Minnesota's smoking rate. It also represents a call to action to employers, government agencies and all Minnesotans. WHAT YOU CAN DO 4 Support policies that reduce commercial tobacco use. Consider including policies such as keeping tobacco prices high or requesting more tobacco prevention funding in your state policy agenda. 4 Talk to people in your community. Find out what your neighbors and fellow community members know about the burdens smoking puts on our state. -� Encourage your employees who smoke to quit. Smoking cessation is often covered as a preventive benefit in employer-sponsored health plans. This means it is available at no additional cost to your employees, other than the premium they are already paying." *Under the Affordable Care Act, most plans must treat tobacco cessation as a preventive service. That does not include grandfathered health plans, such as certain plans that were in existence before March 2010 and have not made significant changes since. (American Lung Association website, lung.org/ our-initiatives/tobacco/cessation-and-prevention/tobacco- cessation-treatment-what-is-covered. html) "Additionally, many Minnesota health plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, offer telephonic tobacco -cessation coaching as a separate program outside of preventive health benefits. Those without health plan coverage can also get help quitting tobacco through QUITPLANO Services (quitplan.com). NOTES 1. Berman M., et al. "Estimating the Cost of a Smoking Employee," Tobacco Control 23 (2014), 428-433. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/toba ccocontro1-2012-050888 2. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. "Typical Monthly Electric Bill for Medium Size Businesses, 2015." https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/compare-mn/energy/electric.jsp 3. LAC Group. "Average Office Supply Costs per Employee." https:Hlac-group.com/average-office-supply-costs-per-employee/ 4. McCarthy, Shawn P. "'Per Employee' IT Spending: Federal Government Is Nearly Four Times the Industry Average," IDC Community, 8/17/16 https://idc-community.com/government/smart_government/per_employee_it_spending_federal_government_is_nearly_four_times_the 5. Training Magazine. "2016 Training Industry Report." https://trainingmag.com/sites/default/files/images/Training_Industry_Report_2016.pdf BlueCross Tobacco in this document refers specifically to the use of manufactured, commercial tobacco products and not ® ® BI u eS h i eld to the sacred, medicinal and traditional use of tobacco by Minnesota American Indians and other groups. Blue Cross® and Blue Shield`s of Minnesota and Blue PlusO are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. X21749 (04/17)