HHS website one-stop resource on smoking

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Officials of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said BeTobaccoFree.gov offers one-stop access to tobacco-related information.

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of HHS, said the consolidated resource includes general information on tobacco, federal and state laws, health statistics and evidence-based methods on how to quit.

"Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of premature and preventable death in the United States," Sebelius said in a statement. "BeTobaccoFree.gov builds upon the Obama administration's commitment to help tobacco users quit and prevent children from starting to use tobacco products."

BeTobaccoFree.gov uses responsive design making information accessible anywhere via smartphone to tablet to desktop. The website's social media dashboard, "Say it -- Share it," provides real-time updates from HHS tobacco-related social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Infographics, Podcasts and Tumblr.

As a result of the Affordable Care Act, most private health insurance plans must now cover without cost-sharing tobacco use screening and cessation interventions for tobacco users, Sebelius said.