title: The role of health plans in tobacco control.
abstract: Health plans play an important role in tobacco control. In this chapter we present an overview of the scientific research on health plan involvement in clinical and community interventions regarding tobacco use. Also included are interventions that have been undertaken by health plans to lower smoking rates among their members and the general population. We conclude with a new model that can be used to engage health plans in tobacco control efforts and a case study that outlines how one health plan has implemented this new model.
authors.affiliation: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Center for Tobacco Reduction and Health Improvement, Eagan, Minnesota 55121, USA. marc_manley@BlueCrossmn.com
authors.forename: Marc W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Manley
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Foldes
authors.forename: Carolyn C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: Rebecca A J
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sechrist
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014481:United States