Tobacco Harm Reduction 101: A Guidebook For Policymakers
In a 2017 Policy Study published by the R Street Institute, Associate Fellow Richard B. Belzer examined the potential financial impact to Medicaid costs in a scenario in which varying degrees of Medicaid recipients switch from using combustible tobacco cigarettes to electronic cigarettes or vaping devices.27 Belzer used a sample size of “1% of smokers [within] demographic groups permanently” switching. Using this analysis, Belzer estimated Medicaid savings “will be [in 25 years] approximately $2.8 billion per 1 percent of enrollees” who switch.
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Additionally, research by Dr. Edward Anselm, a senior fellow for the R Street Institute and senior fellow and medical director of Health Republic Insurance of New Jersey, concludes the presence of flavorings in e-cigarettes significantly helps smokers quit using traditional tobacco cigarettes.89 Anselm also notes concerns over “flavoring as a tool to recruit children are overblown,” in large part because there is no “evidence that suggests children are drawn to tobacco products specifically because of flavor.”
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27 Richard B. Belzer, “Expected Savings to Medicaid From Substituting Electronic for Tobacco Cigarettes,” R Street Institute, December 2017, https:// 2o9ub0417chl2lg6m43em6psi2i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/124-6-1.pdf
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74 Brad Rodu, “Antidote to NEJM ‘formaldehype’ arrives at last,” R Street Institute, September 19, 2017, https://www.rstreet.org/2017/09/19/antidoteto-nejm-formaldehype-arrives-at-last
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89 Edward Anselm, “The Role of Flavoring in Tobacco Harm Reduction,” Policy Study, R Street Institute, December 2015, https://2o9ub0417chl2lg6m4 3em6psi2i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RSTREET49-1.pdf
