Employers tie lower health plan premiums to tobacco screening

[Pioneer Press, August 18, 2011] Chris Evans wants to qualify for a health plan with a lower deductible next year.

So the St. Paul man spent five minutes this week with a toothbrush-shaped swab tucked between his cheek and gums as part of a tobacco-use screening test at United Hospital.

This year, Allina joins a national trend of companies that are linking eligibility for lower-cost health plans to results from tobacco screening tests. While some laud such programs for discouraging tobacco use, there also are concerns about a slippery slope.  Read the entire story at twincities.com.