Setting fines for health risks in Arizona

A recent article in the New York Times describes a proposal created by Arizona's Health Care Cost Containment System that is looking to charge smokers $50 per year and charge a similar fee to diabetics who don't follow their doctor's orders to lose weight. Monica Coury, the spokeswoman for the state Medicaid agency says that they are not out to make smokers stop smoking or weighing those with weight issues. Rather, this plan is meant to help cover the increased healthcare costs associated with these patients who may not be active in the management of their own conditions.