New Report Shows Economic Impact of Secondhand Smoke in Indiana County
A study released yesterday revealed that the economic impact of secondhand smoke costs Marion County $47.5 million annually, according to a new economic impact study by IU’s Bowen Research Center, and this staggering total inhibits economic growth in Indiana.
“Secondhand smoke results in excess medical costs of $54 per capita for Marion County residents,” said Dr. Terrell Zollinger, Dr.PH, Bowen Research Center, IU School of Medicine. “The burden of these expenses is assumed by businesses, government, and individual citizens.”
The study included estimated costs related to ambulatory care, hospital inpatient stays, and loss of life based on hospital discharge data, vital statistics and census data.
According to Zollinger, the estimated health care costs for 2008 was over $18 million for hospitalization and health care of patients with diseases attributed to secondhand smoke exposure. Additionally, another $29 million was lost due to premature death that can be attributed to secondhand smoke exposure. These costs do not include the health care and loss of life costs of Marion County residents who are smokers.
The Bowen report further concluded that consumers and society carry a portion of the economic burden of secondhand smoke as well. Consumers assume additional costs with their portion of insurance premiums and any additional coinsurance and/or co-payments associated with the hospitalization, physician and pharmaceutical costs resulting from exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, businesses pass on their increased costs of health care in higher costs for goods and services to consumers.
Society assumes the cost burden for the uninsured population through the large amount of uncollected hospital revenues. Taxpayers bear the cost of Medicaid benefits for the indigent population and for Medicare clients requiring treatments for secondhand smoke-related diseases.
The report was prepared by the Bowen Research Center, Department of Family Medicine in the IU School of Medicine. The data was compiled using the number of Marion County deaths in 2007 and hospital discharges from 2005 to estimate the number of individuals affected by secondhand smoke. All cost estimates were adjusted to 2008 dollar values.
Story in Indy Star: http://www.indystar.com/article/20091022/LOCAL/910220405/Secondhand+smoke+s+cost+adds+up+for+county
