[MCOH-EH] Smoking - Employees

[Dennis Schultz]

My former employer required both myself and my wife to have blood tests including cotinine as part of their health insurance enrollment.  They used the results to determine insurance premiums.  Prior to doing this, they used annual attestations.  They also provided multiple opportunities to quit tobacco products including fee counseling and medications. 

Dennis Schultz MD MSPH  FACOEM

> On Apr 14, 2021, at 3:37 PM, Savidge, Nancy <NancySavidge at Centura.Org> wrote:
> 
> Our system only hired non smokers for a few years but then went back to an attestation for reduced benefit costs.
>  
> Nancy Savidge
> Occupational Health Coordinator, St. Anthony Summit Medical Center
> Centura Health
>  
> O: 970.668.6981 | F: 303.397.2013
> POB 738, 340 Peak One Dr.  Frisco, CO 80443
>  
> <image002.png>
>  
> I am on a mission to provide our employees with timely services, help facilitate organizational goals,  all while striving to treat my co-workers in a Christ-like manner.
>  
> From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces+nancysavidge=centura.org at mylist.net <mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+nancysavidge=centura.org at mylist.net>> On Behalf Of Paul Allen via MCOH-EH
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 4:26 PM
> To: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net <mailto:mcoh-eh at mylist.net>>
> Cc: Paul Allen <pauljallen at icloud.com <mailto:pauljallen at icloud.com>>
> Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Smoking - Employees
>  
> * External email – Please ensure the safety of links and attachments before opening *
> 
> All our employees have to sign an attestation every year saying they do not smoke, during online open enrollment.
> We do not test. 
> Non smokers pay less each month towards their medical insurance premium 
>  
> Interesting thought making non smoker status a condition of hire
> 
>  
>  
>  Paul Allen MD
> Confluence Health
> OEM Service Line
> Wenatchee WA
>  
> 
> 
> On Apr 13, 2021, at 9:25 AM, Cindy M. Hansen <Chansen at mhg.com> wrote:
> 
>  
> Hey there,
> I am inquiring and seeking info on how folks are implementing their smoking policies, guide to wellness, smoking cessation etc…. 
> Are there insurance implications (i.e., higher premiums for smokers).
> Do you test, If yes, how frequently? And with what testing mechanism Cotinine – POC or other?  If positive do you instantly hike their insurance rate or do you give them opportunity to quit?
> Policy?
> Anything else I haven’t asked that was an important piece during implementation ? 
>  
> We  are no going to have no smoking as a condition of hire, but more of trying to guide, assist, and promote healthier lifestyle. 
>  
> Any comments welcomed.  
>  
> Cindy Hansen, RN, MSN, CCM
> Director, Employee Health 
> Memorial Hospital  | 4500 13th Street  | Gulfport, MS 39502-1810
> Office:  228.867.4174 | Fax:  228.867.4080 | Cell:  228-323-7654
> <image001.png>
>  
> www.gulfportmemorial.com/ <http://www.gulfportmemorial.com/>
> <~WRD000.jpg>
> This email may contain information covered under the Mississippi Privacy Law (Miss. Code Ann. § 75-24-29), the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) and/or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-191) and its accompanying regulations. Healthcare information is personal and sensitive and must be protected in accordance with these provisions. If this email contains healthcare information, it is being disclosed to you only after appropriate authorization from the patient or under circumstances that do not require patient authorization. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Re-disclosure without additional patient authorization, unless otherwise permitted by law, is prohibited.  
>  
> **********PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL**********  
>  
> If you are not the intended recipient of this email, be advised that any use, disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of the information contained therein is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and then destroy/delete all copies of the original message and any attachment(s) thereto. ---------------------------------------
> The MCOH-EH List has always been moderated by members of the ACOEM Medical Center Occupational Health Section. It is currently moderated by Joe Fanucchi MD FACOEM.
> List membership is free, but only subscribers may post to the list.
> To post send messages to: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
> To become a subscriber, or to change your subscription options (turn off email while you're on vacation, etc):   http://www.mcoh-eh.net <http://www.mcoh-eh.net/>
> MediTrax / Occupational Health Systems, Inc. provides financial support to ensure the list remains a free resource for the occupational health community.
> ---------------------------------------
> List archives (public): http://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/ <http://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/>
> ---------------------------------------
> Send administrative requests to: drjoe at meditrax.com
> ---------------------------------------
> When replying to a message, PLEASE delete all footers, and all messages to which you're NOT replying.
> 
> 
> *******************************************************************************
> This communication is for the use of the intended recipient only. It may contain information that
> is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, any
> disclosure, copying, further distribution or use thereof is prohibited. If you have received this
> communication in error, please advise me by return e-mail or by telephone and delete/destroy it.
> *******************************************************************************
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------
> The MCOH-EH List has always been moderated by members of the ACOEM Medical Center Occupational Health Section. It is currently moderated by Joe Fanucchi MD FACOEM.
> List membership is free, but only subscribers may post to the list.
> To post send messages to: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
> To become a subscriber, or to change your subscription options (turn off email while you're on vacation, etc):   http://www.mcoh-eh.net
> MediTrax / Occupational Health Systems, Inc. provides financial support to ensure the list remains a free resource for the occupational health community.
> ---------------------------------------
> List archives (public): http://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/
> ---------------------------------------
> Send administrative requests to: drjoe at meditrax.com
> ---------------------------------------
> When replying to a message, PLEASE delete all footers, and all messages to which you're NOT replying.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20210416/31f6033c/attachment.htm>