Results from the first annual survey on addressing tobacco in managed care.

Managed care organisations (MCOs) enjoy a history of promoting health through preventive services and health maintenance activities. In this unique capacity as healthcare providers, these organisations can effect healthy lifestyle changes in their member populations. The single most important cause of premature death and preventable illness, in the United States today, is cigarette smoking.1 Most individuals who smoke express a desire to quit.2 Through the implementation of smoking cessation programmes, MCOs can play a major part in helping motivated individuals to join the ranks of quitters. As part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative, Addressing Tobacco in Managed Care, an annual survey of all managed healthcare plans is being conducted each year from 1997 to 2000. These surveys have the following objectives. The results of the first annual survey are outlined here. The survey was a mailed …