NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some are questioning why the state's heath care program, TennCare, won't pay for programs to help people quit smoking but does pay for lung transplants.

Regina Trevino is tethered to an oxygen canister because of emphysema and other diseases. She used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day and tried to quit but couldn't.

"My lungs are the age of a 119-year-old woman, and I'm 49. That speaks for itself," said Trevino.

She's waiting for a lung transplant that will cost about $150,000, but TennCare will pay for it. Yet TennCare does not pay for quit-smoking programs, which would cost about $100 a month per patient.

Dr. Aaron Milstone, a pulmonologist at Vanderbilt Medical Center, calls it a travesty.

"The real need is there because they have a lot of illnesses that are directly related to tobacco abuse, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and emphysema," said Milstone.

TennCare pointed out that any of its enrollees who want to participate in a smoking cessation program can go to a Tennessee health department and get involved in a sliding fee basis.

TennCare workers said that even the newest drug therapies only have a 22 percent success rate. Even so, many states provide quit-smoking benefits to their enrollees, often at no charge.

"Anytime you can do primary prevention, sort of nipping the problem in the bud, you're going to save the health care system tremendous amounts of dollars over time," said Milstone.

Trevino spent 21 days on life support after her lung problems nearly killed her. She wants smokers addicted like she was to get some help to quit.

"I want people to realize that life is worth more than a cigarette," said Trevino.

One of every four Tennesseans is a smoker. Those who want help quitting smoking should visit the state's Tennessee Tobacco Quit Line or call its 24-hour hotline at 800-QUIT-NOW.