Tobacco cessation offers untapped revenue for medical practices

Board-certified internist with a long-standing focus on public health, tobacco control, and preventive care Edward Anselm discusses his article "The economic case for investing in tobacco cessation." Edward reveals that while smoking rates have hit historic lows, 19.5 percent of adults still use tobacco, with significant disparities persisting across race, ethnicity, and income levels. He analyzes why only 6.4 percent of patients receive optimal treatment involving both counseling and medication despite 80 percent of users being advised to quit. The conversation highlights the financial argument for cessation, noting that Medicare reimburses $15.50 for brief counseling, yet systems bill this for less than 2 percent of visits. Edward outlines how a systems-change approach can create a net reduction in costs and generate substantial revenue for accountable care organizations. Discover how treating tobacco use aggressively is both good medicine and smart business strategy.

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