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July/August 2004 |
Your congregation can join the movement to help Hoosiers quit smoking
M-Plan, ITPC partner to help state employees quit smoking
INDIANAPOLIS - M-Plan and Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation recently announced an innovative partnership that will help state employees to quit smoking.
In collaboration with ITPC, M-Plan has agreed to make available free access to its online support program "Breathe" - a state-of-the-art Web site tool designed to help smokers quit and stay tobacco free. Breathe is a new smoking cessation program provided by M-Plan in collaboration with HealthMedia.
"Breathe is convenient, private and easy to use," said Alex Slabosky, CEO and president of M-Plan. "We're proud to make this option available to state employees who want to make and keep their commitment to stop smoking."
ITPC and the Indiana State Department of Personnel approached Indiana health care plans in January asking for ways to help state employees stop smoking.
"When we put out the call to help, M-Plan stepped up," said Karla Sneegas, ITPC's executive director. "M-Plan is helping state employees take a positive step to improve their health and reduce health care costs."
Governor Joe Kernan said, "Reducing tobacco use is a critical step toward improving the health of Hoosier workers and reducing rising health care costs. I am pleased to see both the ITPC and members of the private sector, such as M-Plan, exploring creative ways to help state employees in their efforts to stop smoking, as well as encourage similar partnerships throughout our communities."
The online Breathe program includes a simple questionnaire used to create a Personal Plan to Quit Smoking built specifically for each user. The plan will provide personalized strategies for decreasing tobacco dependency, dealing with cravings, and quitting for life.
The ITPC executive board was created to oversee funding from Indiana's share of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement from the tobacco companies. The board oversees the entire comprehensive program, which includes media components, special youth features, enforcement, cessation initiatives and community programs in every county in Indiana. Learn more about ITPC's efforts at www.WhiteLies.tv or its youth movement at www.voice.tv.
M-Plan provides medical coverage to more than 180,000 Indiana residents through 200 employers.
Join the movement
Hoosier United Methodists Together continues to support the Hoosier Faith and Health Resolution to help the ITPC program agency restore more than $20 million cut by the state. To date more than 40 United Methodist congregations and groups have joined 100 churches of other denominations and faith groups in asking the General Assembly to restore these funds to prevent and help smokers quit the use of tobacco. Together hopes to have at least 100 United Methodist congregations sign this important resolution.
Your congregation, UMW, UMM and UMYF are invited to join in the Hoosier Faith and Health Resolution for the health of Hoosiers, download the resolution from the Indiana Area United Methodist Web site at www.inareaumc.org, have your pastor, church council or other group sign the resolution on behalf of the congregation and mail or fax it to Together. This campaign will continue throughout the year and culminate in mid-February when hopefully more than 1,000 locally signed resolutions will be presented to the Indiana General Assembly during a rally at the capitol in Indianapolis.
Last updated on July 09, 2004