Business, Health Care Leaders Call on Texas Employers to Cover Smoking Cessation Benefits for an Additional 100,000 Peop...(aimed at helping encourage patients to q...),Health

"The Texas Coalition for Worksite Wellness' Call for Coverage is a common-sense approach to improving the health and productivity of the Texas workforce," said Hammond. "Employers like USAA and H-E-B are already leading the charge, and the State of Texas will join them this fall when state employees can take advantage of smoking cessation benefits through their health plans. It's time for more Texas businesses to hear the call and respond."

H-E-B offers comprehensive smoking cessation benefits for their partners as part of an overall health care benefits strategy aimed at improving health, increasing productivity and saving health care dollars.

"Smoking is a significant health care cost driver for businesses," said Leslie Lockett, director of public affairs for H-E-B. "The decision to offer smoking cessation benefits makes good bottom line business sense, and it's the right thing to do for the health and well being of our partners and their families, too. We hope other Texas-based businesses will join us and the Coalition in this call for coverage."

The State of Texas also has realized benefits of helping state employees quit smoking for good. Although the statewide smoking ban did not pass, legislators made it possible for the Employee Retirement System to provide members with smoking cessation coverage beginning Sept. 1, 2009.

"Helping state employees quit smoking is good for employees and good for Texas taxpayers," Andy Homer, government relations director for the Texas Public Employee Association said. "The ERS group benefit plan is the largest non-federal health plan in Texas. The smoking cessation benefit provided to our members during the recent legislative session will lower health care costs over time and employees who quit smoking are more productive. This truly is a benefit for all Texans."

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