Tobacco Documents Online

1 rAUt 14 Catastrophic (Con7inuedfrom page 12) (at approval) " In a separate but somewhat related effort, Rep. Edward Roybal ~(D-CA) is leading a charge to increase regulation of Medicare supplemental„or "'Medigap"' insurance. House subcomminee staffers work- ing for Roybal recently surveyed 35 state regulators and found that'an expected EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS decrease in Medigap rates due to rata- strophiccam coverage never materialized. Iet fatt, more than half reponed rates were increasing by aC least 35% for 1989- before the Medicare benefits were re- pealed: Maximum increases ranged from 10% in Massachusetts to 133% in Ari- mna.. In response, a new bill'from Roybal would: -Require govcrnmentapproval for all Medigap rate increases which exceed those expected for Medicare. Women more willing to get cancer screenings at work Women who were offered' low-cost, breasi x-taays at the work site were more Ih'an twice as wiliing to have the exams than those who were not, a radiologist says. Dr. Howard B. lt:esster of the Fox Chase CancerCenter inphitadelphia, said tliat by taking a 32-foot mobilc mammog- raphyvanto 53 work sites ibPennsylvania and Delaware, women were more willing to undergo theancu-screening. "There is a tremendous amount of avoidance to mammograpbies." Kessler said."W omrn wouldratbernotthinkabotts it." However, with the support of co- workasa.dtheconvenienceofthescreen- ings at 14e workplace, more female em- ployees were wi4dtg to undergo tlie screen- ing for the cancerihat killed 40.354 U.S. women in 1986. Specifically. the exams were offered' to female employees and'male workers' spouses at a cost of S30 each, with the companyy picking up ~the remaining 530' tab, Kessler said. Results then were sent to radiologists for diagnosis and the woman and her doc- tor werenotiftedof the results inabout five days, he said, Duringthe firstyear, 3,b'27women- more than a third of the some 10,OOD eti- gible- received mammograms a their workplace. From that group, 63 biopsies were recommended. Of those, nine w. cers were Lfent'tfied - all in the early atages, Kessles said. Kessler noted the importance of such numbers si nce federal researchers have ea- timated119% of the deaths from breast cancer could have been prevented with recommended Inammogrrans. Doctors agree that women between the agesof33aod39abould havean initial exam;a saDsequatt x-ray every two years from ages 40 to 49; and annttally fhertaf- ter. 'The problem you have is a reluctana by women toparticipate in the absence of symptoms." Kessler said. However, despite interest byemploy- ers in work site exams, many areas do not offersuch mobile units. KesslQr said. "It tends to be very expensive - Ilie van and equipment alone cost 3250.000," Kesslereaplained."We havebeen offering il for about four years, and we just break even. It's a very expensive and ume con- suming venture-butofcourse the payotf comeswhenwedeuctcancerearly."  • Create a minimum national prior review process that would require the insuren to document the need'for a rate increase. • Provide seniors, upon request, a wrieten justification for the proposed rate hike. • Increase the federal minimum loss ratio for the policies from 60% to 70% for individual plansand 75% to S0%for group coverage. The loss ratios for all plans would be available to consumers through the state insurance departments. , In the Senate, Minrtesota Republican Dave Durenberger said he wants to bring "drastic clunge'to the prSvate health in-surance industry: At abearingoa Medigap policies lie announced, "I will be seeking improvements such ashigher loss-ratio standirds, standardizations of benefit packagu, increased 'kveling' of com- mi3sions paid to saksagents and improved enforcement by sute insurance regula- tora.." McArdle says employers could indi- MammoinphysereentnTwould beeoveM t,ndert6e revised eaustrophkc certe bilL rectly benefit from expanded oversight. given that some firms are starting to fund the purchase of such policies for retirees "In an election year, this is probably an issue dqu's got a lot of steam behind it,"he observed.  Insurer offers discounts to non-smoking groups By Anita Bruszese A Seattle-based bealthcare service tontrzetor afriliated with tha naticaal Blue Cross and Bluc ShieldAssociation huan. ' nounced itwig begin to oHer smokers and tlieii employers new financial irrcentives to kick the habil: Although it is tat:believed to be the first such program in thecountry, the King County Medicat B I ue S hield's new bene fit is important becauu if successful. Blues nationwide may consider offering the benefd:/ttthesame time, King Coanntyhas agreed to sponsor a massive educational campaign in the state designed to inform , the public about the dangers of not only smoking, but passive smoking. WHERE WILL YOU BE OCTOBER 9th? If you need to stay up-to-date on•the most recent4rends, ideas and challenges affecting benefits today, you should be in Nashville, Tennessee! Thats where you'll find'The Only Nattonal Conference and Exposition Designed Exclusively for Benefit Management - your best opportunity to confer with the leading experts in the field; network with yourpeers and investigate first hand the range of products and services available. Make your plans now to attend! By taking advantage of our Early Bird rate, you save over 25%a! For details on the program and registration card, see pages 56 and 57 of this issue. See you at Opryland! ' BENEFIrS NO I l'Ct S MATERiAL MAY BE PROTECTED BY EX/ PYRI'cHT LAW (TITLE 17 U.S. cODE1 Specificafly, the program for groups with at least five employees includes the following: •Pays75%of amokingcessation costs with a lifctimemaximum of 5500: (Ihis is considered astandard benefit and will be added iteeof charge as groups renew this year):. • Discounts ranging from 1017. to l5'b for group health pians to companies that are smoke-free and have a substantial majority of nonsmokers. •An area-wide educ:ational campaign that urges people to call an "S00" number or maII in coupons to receive free bro- chures to stop smoking and an explanation. of the dangen of passive smoking. C2llers receive counona rnr a an% discount~until theend of this month on materials from the SmokmY Pohcv ns~n~gat e. the discoum is available from 12 other vendars m Was ngton. __Spai tfealfy thismajorpubliceduca- tion initiativowillcost more than 5100,000 and is expected toreach 2.2 million people in the Puget Sound region. Funher, small groups witli two to four employees whomees therequirements will have a 10% discount factored in at their renewal in October. Largergroups that are merit or expttience-ratedwill have the smoke-free discount.f8ctored along with expertence todetermineraees.TAe 2%-3% . discount will be available only for the first year the:group qualifles. Win Pick'ering, president of King County MedicalL notedtfiarthe olkr "is partof our continuing commitment to hold down the cost of healthcaoe insurance by encouraging people to choose a healthier lifestyle." =.. Smoking costs - While individual rate cuts have been available to non-smokers for years. only a handful of group plans are believed to offer such discounts currently. "1 think this (King County)',is a very big deal; " noted Robert A. Rosner, execu- (Conrinued on pogr.16)

PAGE 16 APRIL 1990 Some companies holding out on smoking policies By Denise fNarois Ask most corporate execu- tives whether they'tielieve smok- ing in the workplace is a health threat and they,will bvcrwhelm- ingly say it is. Yet statistically, 40% of American companies have no stnoktng policy at all. And while 60% of wrporations have some type of poltcy, expats agcee that figure is a smokescreen. In fact,the smokingpolicy In manycompanies is so inadequate ii does little topratect non-smok- ers from tobacco toxins, the ex- perts say. Despite the fact that people who work alongside smoken reportedly run a high risk of contracting disease fran passive smoke inhalation, many companiesaredragging their fea on establishing an effective tfua,gh rhw/targk dmn ehie Onss aod eAte Aoamyanya 6rtteepripped rogtdde)oa EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS smoking policy, either out of concern for the cost ar fear of losing key persomeL "Smaller companies ate re- luctant because of conditions unique to smallcompanies. They have fewer places fordesignated smoking areas," said John Pin- ney, a Washington, D.C.-based expert on workplace smoking. "In smallercompanks, Utere are fewerexecutivesand if any of Tlmm 6 ao biqgptmphyte benNitt decirioa lacingdnpfoJps mAay fAan Ntest&elica olheallA cerecanrmge EaAitiond 'uwwoance lfunnged avt MAIf)k pP0l. tltifirariat /mina Darpu ofchoitet foo of omhnitvtX n rtotiyb a junqk out thac s~`r~~aw~aA~..rr , ~ r ~ ek 9eidAofNmlosey ll't U. pierteaed MebeatA tar iiidnury LArory/l pmvida cathucYiqg un7imfim wiaoad cottnraotimtent them smoke, they may block movement toward this." Pinney, who has been in- volved in workplace smoking issuerfor 12 years, is head of the Corponte Health Policies Group and'director of the Harvard Uni- versity Institute fotthe Study of Smoking Behavior and Policy. He said whatcattcemshim morethan companies with no smoking pol- icy are those with policies that acoesr ond crat elhaiaantt Ag af tahidt Aarmadr aR Dy faS dre farqisf AemTll aveiauoernA4Fakrxx Sdax tte offb rlroicef oFpwnt sLUbfepmOrdd aeatoib-baA bgr admd -nlum atem am{ duioraaPo noe dtpmdtdlraar nditaprQamamk INrbr dha rrraoedAX+ao afana,anent ?taan to BJtie Cross eaye tec,* eaetr $lue Sh;W po®'ma Av Jea aat Fw dli.d~wrd7dl(nr(~dtfnntrdl[MJialD tda stqpart rAnrt tat6 semice pn caamvntan. glr Reme rt oamt ertomJh jeat ta getahead fa tlx ;iNM ALIH ~ARRJ 1l N MrafNl carr indusoY so tork oSangitg to star ahaod Cagpevdclnnpreravatioe toCay MaoaxkoeatuyMano,ftdCenrpntptrttsm andkttaDrlowjuidetlaougAUtth'edtle gia Jav Ne ptupa badanes of auali[y om~ qooida tarejwr* • aqineM.avLL n.. Q.a W nxsli4NMneW1l. Clrolr i112 on Rqdw Savlb Card don't adequately protect non- smokers. Policiesallowing smoken to designate their own offices as smoking areas, for example. serve little purpose. Cafcterias or employee lounges where smok- en are separated from non,smok- en by a table don't keep tobacco toxins out of a non-smoker's lungs3ays Pinney. Yet, bah.are situations commonly found in large corporations that claim to have smoking policies Acording to the Surgeon General's «port, a substantial number of lumg cancer deaths in aoo-sa.okns havebeea liokedto involuntary tau3iag. The Bavi- ronmental Protection Agency' (EPA): also noted passive smok- itg mcreases respitatory ilhtess in children. An EPA report on environ- Smoking (Continued franpage 14) tive director of the ranprofn Snwkiwg Poticy Institute. `ihey're reaNy throwing down the gauntlet to other insurers." Rosner added that each smoker can cost a company 51,000 a year in lowerproducdv- ity, illhess, accidents, oice up- keep and higher insumnce premi'- ums. "Data from individuals shows th'atnonsmokers are bet- ter risks," he said. "But insurers know that iflhey want this ftom groups, they're going to have to offeran incenpive." However, convincing colleagues to go "smoke free" is not without its problems, admitted Tracy 7ac harias, se nior public relations coordinator for Kiat Couocy.. We have one group where the only two who smoke are the two top guys," Zacharias said. "1 think dtiswboleidea of gettfng an entire group tostop smoking is going to sociologically be very imemsting." 7xharias added, that thenatlonal Blue Cross aod Blue Shield Association has beenttoti'- fled of the program. "They te6 us they're going to be watching," she said'"fLey're very interested to see how it works." 

mental tobaceosmoke issued last sttmmer ttoted cigarette smoke t:ontains more than 4,700 chemi- cal compounds, 43 of them car- cinogenic and some mutaganie which means they can causeper- nanent changes togenetic mate- ria1. The 1PA study found that nicbtine is a widesprcad air con- tatninant in buildings where smoking oceun, and concentra- tions of nicotine's break-down . element, cotinine, have tieen found in the body fluids of tton- smokers exposed to environ- mental tobaeeo smoke. What tnakes one company implement a successful srttoking policy, while another just gives lipservice? Matthew hlyers, staff director for the Coalition on Smoking or Health in Washing- ton. D.C., points to progtessive cotporate leadership aa the keyto a succusful smoking poficy. He addcd tliat progressive leadership oftcn cxtcnds beyond a tob'acco polic~y. l'hoso compa- nics aro often at thc forefront of othcn c~alth' issucs as well. Anti- moking,tdvnr,~P nob Rosncn belie~es compani~l to tmp emeno smoktng pstltctes for seveiafTreasons: thov see smoking u a cantroversial iswQ tlut may distupt co~y_mo c,rT--someaie in powcr smokes a[Sfidoesn' t wani a smoktng pol- icy, ~ sa unrealistk goals and see te luocelu s,s as et~ier totaR stm~~- QO t n:. ~n ma.n. age, or ust d't w ~ocn the monc . ls ca acit as d'ere t r of : Seatt e, az in n. ased Smo ingPolicyInstitttte;Rosner has n wo tnt eia t vears m get companies to start up smok- ing po tctcs an c s nust about eve excuse for not doin ~ t; e Is one Fortune 500 ~ company that considered his psoposa6 to spcnd S 1,700 to stan a smoking policy, but decided it was too costly. He likened the corporate mentalityand tAe struggle to geta smoking policy set up to seating childrcn and adults at separau tables onThanksgiving. "One of the big problems is thanmany of thc pcople who are really inter- estcd in smokingpolleics, such as the medical directors, arc sitting at tAe childsen's table...they have to sell to people who are most powerful in the t~mpaation and' diat's difficult." Another problem Rosner ettcottnters is ttttreal i stic expecta- tions of what it will uke to get a policy suned. Ottc enthusiastic executive thoughrit would be a 'piece of t:ake," Rosner teecal led. His plan tnet with so many ob- stacles die executive "got shot oul of the wateL" ~ In other usea, eompanies will see itas jus[toobigaproject. '"iltey`Il!say, t:all ns back in 10 -vs.l justdon't seethis hapf~- in our carporate culture,". .sner said. Not all companies are be- hind the smoking eight ball. In fact;, some industries are way ahead of the game. as are some paru of the country. ' Rosner said that in his expe- rience, the west coatt is leading th b f h sota passetl restrictive smoking While Rosner noted the health' cessation product, several to- kgistationin 1475,manycompa- andinsuranceindustrieswerethe bacco companies that tiad'~been nies there began implementing first to implement„ Pinney buyingfertilizerfromahecorpo- sttwkingpoli¢ies.Thesametrend pointed to the retail'and'aervice rationcancelled'the'trorders.The er ewaymt enum o compa- ` nies' setting smoking policies, followedbytheeancoastandthe hey'11 say,eall tu tyack in 10 years. I just don't mid west. The south t'is bringing ttp the rear; ' he said. . Myers said he fmds a come- lation between those atates with occutred in New York and New public smoking polieies and ihe )ersey, he noted. numbu of companies that adopt Nor is every industry as smoking policies: Af'ter hfmne- quick lo adopt smoking poGcies. en reliabil'tty and safetyo/ Direct `+~~ i~o ~ wr N,,,,m„ r„t,.,y s~,xn Devosit.Nowisthetimetooffer 1 tw~m..v+m„~.zmio. , eompanyma~tyourempbyeea DEFOSIT ~I cwiwnn ~ will be enjoyi~ng the aomenience,. n'~'~~~ ~~~.: d~NKHA '' f depos~t their ~pay, reci Depos~t is kss expensive than eradiuonal I N.we _ payroll prncessing.,You save money through intreased productivity ~; _ andbweroperatingcosts.DirectDepositwillalaoeliminatethe ~ ~m:.. need totrack down orstop payment onlostorstdenchecks. =D,QE/'Mr II ,~.m_ And whikyou're aaving your ~ l v~ ~ product went to market anyway. and eventually the tobaeco com- panies renewed their orden for fertiliur. Nonetheless, Rosner said' that in ~ his opinion corporate America has done a poor job in industries as being slowest. protecting its workers fiom to- Rosner noted dtat when a bacco smoke. ehemical corporation several "Peoplejustliaveahardtime yean ago uutrodttced a smoking wiih controversy; ' he said. ^ In these times of spirating costs, Diiect Deposit of Payrall provides ypu withan empktyee benefd tlut an arMally save yDUmoney.. rPkak~nd mw-~",onm+i~wnanAa.my w,.~ WithqirectDepositempbyeesworit'havetoleaveworkto I W^yoabeMtntroo,ai.n~~ywtar,yrdt ' I urem thebenefitsofhavin tAeir d dtrect ~ wrrn~w.,.,,..~.."~~ u"+ yb P~ t wy ePosited IY L - - - - - - - - - - - fnto their savings.or checking amounts. institution or'eturn the attac ' coupo n. And give youremployees something that you can both b'enefit fran: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To karn more about Direct Deposit of Payroil, nll yoor financial ~ ' '°~""" """~'"`~ """ "` " ""' "O"