Blue Cross receives award for anti-smoking activities

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has received an award recognizing the health insurer's commitment to reduce smoking.



Eagan-based Blue Cross received the Public Health Leadership Award from America's Health Insurance Plans.



The award, Addressing Tobacco Control: Leading by Example, honors one health plan in the nation for its leadership efforts to help smokers quit and to prevent tobacco use.



Blue Cross said its various anti-smoking programs have been very successful, reducing the number of adult Blue Cross members who smoke from 14.7 percent to 12.4 percent between 1999 and 2003.



Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering a total of 2.6 million members in Minnesota and elsewhere in the country.