Letters & Op-Eds
Fazen: Helping Texans quit smoking is good business
On Jan. 1, millions of Texans resolved to finally stop smoking. But unfortunately for most, they won't even make it through the month before they light up again. A recent survey of Texas smokers conducted by the Texas Coalition for Worksite Wellness showed that Lone Star State residents need more tools to help them successfully beat this deadly addiction.
The good news from the TCWW sur...
Sanchez: An ounce of prevention once a day
Americans constantly search for the fountain of youth or the next miracle cure, a way, as Bob Dylan sang to “stay forever young.” We all want to live longer, healthier lives, but too many Americans are not getting the preventive services that would help them do so. The problem is even more acute among racial and ethnic minorities.
Preventive care, including smoking cessation, immunizat...
Fazen: Preventing high health costs
Promotion of health and wellness seems to be everywhere we turn these days, from newly adopted city smoking bans to removing soft drinks in schools. We're seeing more communities and organizations encourage and embrace healthy lifestyle choices. It's a positive trend that's gaining momentum among Texas business and health care executives as they look for innovative solutions to their own company's...
Healthy trend
The July 7 Focus Section commentary ("Employers use many programs to control costs for health care") about innovative changes to the health care delivery system was right on target. We've seen a definite trend among businesses in Texas and around the nation toward health programs and insurance products that place a greater priority on wellness and prevention to the benefit of both workers a...