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Article: Amount of smoking-related costs is tough to calculate; But state, Blue Cross-Blue Shield estimate of Medicaid health care expenses is expected to be a huge number.(BUSINESS)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- December 11, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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One of the critical questions in Minnesota's lawsuit against the tobacco industry is the amount of financial damages that will be claimed to represent the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses.
The state and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota have yet to put a precise cost on their estimate of Medicaid health care expenditures but it is certain to be substantial.
The industry, meanwhile, is expected to argue that most or all of the health-care costs have already been covered through the tax collected on each pack of cigarettes, each box of cigars and various smokeless tobacco products.
"The state is making an argument that usage made ...