Michael Pesko, Ph.D., has been awarded a 4-year, $750,000 grant from the American Cancer Society to evaluate provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that affect tobacco users. These provisions include expanding access to smoking cessation products and cancer screenings, permitting tobacco rating in the individual and small group health insurance marketplaces, and expanding Medicaid programs in select states. This four-year grant will evaluate the effects of these provisions on high-risk tobacco users' insurance coverage, tobacco use, tobacco cessation product use, cancer screenings, professional consultations regarding tobacco use, and exposure to carcinogens.
Cigarette smoking is directly linked with cancer, and scientists say that it accounts for 30 percent of all cancer deaths. This grant from the American Cancer Society will help provide new, timely evidence on the impact of these provisions.
Dr. Pesko is an Assistant Professor of Healthcare Policy & Research at Weill Cornell Medicine. He uses health economics and econometrics frameworks to evaluate policies affecting healthcare delivery, health insurance, and substance use.
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