For Immediate Release
APHA Applauds HHS Plan to Extend Benefits to Help America’s Seniors Stop Smoking
Statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, Executive Director
Washington, D.C., December 23, 2004
– "The American Public Health Association enthusiastically welcomes today’s announcement from Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson that HHS plans to extend benefits to help Medicare recipients stop smoking.
While he didn’t arrive on a sleigh, Secretary Thompson has delivered a wondrous gift to America’s seniors just in time for the holidays. This proposal will save lives and save money.
The science demonstrates that it’s never too late for someone to stop smoking and with 300,000 smoking-related deaths annually of Americans age 65 and older, this proposal will go a long way in helping thousands of seniors live longer, healthier lives."
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About APHA
Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health officials at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions.
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