2020 -- H 7473

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LC004236

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH REQUIRE THAT ALL PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN RHODE ISLAND

COVER SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Canario, Bennett, Jackson, McLaughlin, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2020

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

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     WHEREAS, The Cancer Action Network lists tobacco as the leading cause of

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preventable death in the United States, with cigarette smoking causing 480,000 deaths annually.

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Smoking costs the nation $130 billion annually in medical care costs, and more than $150 billion

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in lost productivity; and

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     WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most

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smokers are addicted to nicotine, a drug found naturally in tobacco. More Americans are addicted

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to nicotine than any other drug and the center’s recent research suggests that nicotine may be as

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addictive as heroin or cocaine; and

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     WHEREAS, The CDC has also reported that approximately seventy percent of smokers

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want to quit smoking, and about half try to quit annually. However, less than ten percent succeed,

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in part because less than one-third of smokers trying to quit use proven cessation treatments; and

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     WHEREAS, Unfortunately, many private insurance carriers do not cover smoking

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cessation programs and others require high out-of-pocket costs which also reduces the number of

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smokers who are able to try smoking cessation programs; and

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     WHEREAS, The CDC recommends that all insurance programs include comprehensive

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coverage for all evidence-based cessation treatments, including counseling and over-the-counter

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and prescription medications. The CDC further recommends that all such plans include

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individual, group and telephone counseling, and cover at least two quit attempts per year; and

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     WHEREAS, Quitting smoking offers a plethora of health benefits to individuals. Quitting

 

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smoking lowers one’s risk of getting lung cancer and numerous other types of cancer, reduces the

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risk of heart disease within one to two years of quitting, reduces respiratory symptoms and the

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risk of developing COPD, and reduces the risk of infertility for women; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that the Rhode Island Department of Health

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requires that all private insurance companies in Rhode Island cover smoking cessation programs;

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and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina M. Raimondo, Governor of

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the State of Rhode Island, and to Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Rhode Island

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Department of Health.

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LC004236

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