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New Report: Washington Falls Short on Tobacco Prevention, Public Policies to Fight Cancer

... legislation to prevent and reduce cancer, according to a new report released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). The annual "How Do You Measure Up? A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality" finds the Evergreen State meets the benchmark in just three of the eight public policy areas and falls short in four other categories. "This year alone, almost 39,200 Washingtonians will be diagnosed with ... treatment. This report provides lawmakers a legislative path forward to improve cancer prevention efforts, curb tobacco use, prioritize quality of life for patients and their families and increase access to critical health coverage." ACS CAN is particularly concerned with Washington’s red ...

2020 Maine Session Summary

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Mainers touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2020, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the Maine Legislature in support of the following priorities:        Ensuring Access to Quality Care Surprise Medical Billing ... insurance on their own or through a small employer, spreading health care costs across a larger number of individuals and providing greater cost protections for high cost claims within the pooled market. The law also requires insurers to offer a set of health insurance plans that would ...

Legislature Presses on with $0 Funding for Youth Tobacco Prevention Despite Budget Surplus

RALEIGH, NC  – June 29, 2021 – Last week, Senate lawmakers passed their final version of the budget – dedicating zero funding for the state’s tobacco prevention programs amid skyrocketing youth tobacco use. “Our kids are worth more than zero,” said Derwin Montgomery, ACS CAN Government Relations Director in North Carolina. “With our state budget in surplus and an estimated $140 million collected from the tobacco ... offering no support to prevent our kids from starting to use tobacco is shocking and downright dangerous. Failing to include such funding will cost our state more financially in the long-term and result in thousands of preventable deaths.” When well-funded, evidence-based tobacco ...

New Report Shows Consumer Tobacco Consumption Conforming to Tax Loopholes

WASHINGTON, D.C. August 2, 2012 A significant decrease in cigarette consumption between 2000 and 2011 was offset by the use of other forms of smoked tobacco, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's (CDC) Office on Smoking ... as a way to avoid increased cigarette taxes. A statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: The CDC 's data clearly demonstrate that the disparity in tax treatment of tobacco products is undercutting our ability to ... reduce tobacco use and save lives. Tax loopholes harm public health by encouraging use of lower-taxed tobacco products, and they have cost governments more than $1 billion in revenue since 2009. More smokers who might otherwise quit are now resorting to other types of tobacco ...

Lawmakers should avoid raiding the tobacco permanent fund

... years ago, New Mexico lawmakers made a commitment to create a permanent fund supported by annual tobacco settlement payments, with the intent of providing stable funding for prevention and cessation programs that reduce devastating tobacco-related illnesses now and into the future. ... points from 19.9 percent to 11.4 percent, thanks in large part to tobacco prevention and cessation programs implemented through the Department of Health and the Indian Affairs Department. Even with these declines, smoking costs New Mexico $844 million each year in direct health care costs. ... consider long-term solutions to the state’s recurring budget shortfalls. This Op-Ed appeared in the NM Political Report on August 29, 2016. It can be viewed at  http://nmpoliticalreport.com/90284/lawmakers-should-avoid-raiding-the-to... Lawmakers should avoid raiding the tobacco permanent ...

Senate Amendment to Pay for Student Loan Fix with Prevention Fund Undermines Historic Investment in Health

WASHINGTON -- May 24, 2012 -- The U.S. Senate is considering an amendment to offset the cost of student loan programs by cutting the Prevention and Public Health Fund. A statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) President Christopher W. Hansen follows: Families affected by cancer are urging lawmakers in the U.S. Senate to oppose an amendment that would ...

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to Maine Lawmakers: the Fight Against Tobacco is Not Over

This statement can be attributed to Hilary Schneider, director of government relations in Maine for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), in response to portions of Governor LePage’s biennial budget proposal related to the Department of Health and Human Services: “The toll tobacco takes on Mainers – ...

Cancer Advocates Urge Washington Legislature Not to Weaken State's Clean Indoor Air Law

Olympia, Wash. – February 8, 2017 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is deeply concerned about proposed legislation to weaken Washington’s Clean Indoor Air Law. We urge lawmakers to vote ‘No’ on House Bill ... which would allow smoking in cigar bars across Washington and require workers in such establishments to be current smokers as a condition of employment. In response to the legislation, Mary McHale, ACS CAN Washington government relations director, issued the following statement:  “We cannot put the lives of thousands of workers and patrons in jeopardy by weakening our state’s smoke-free protections. No one should have to choose between their ...

Hawaii Public Health Advocates Urge Legislature Not to Eliminate the State’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding

... rates and health care costs for more than two decades. The funding comes from yearly payments from the tobacco industry, not taxpayers, as part of a settlement to ensure the state has an evidence-based and well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation program. This legislation seeks to stop ... budget is a shortsighted, misguided solution that will reverse decades of progress in fighting tobacco use. Repealing this stable funding will cost our state more financially in the long-term, and result in thousands of preventable deaths. “For more than 20 years, Hawaii’s tobacco ... people deserve to live healthy tobacco-free lives, and we hope our lawmakers will reinstate the original law as it was intended." ### About ACS CAN at 20   The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of ...

$1 Cigarette Tax Increase Fails in Wyoming Revenue Committee

... the tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack and increased the tax some other tobacco products. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supported the $1 cigarette tax increase oproven to reduce tobacco use, save lives and reduce health care costs. ACS CAN was also working with lawmakers to amend the bill to include a tax on e-cigarettes given the alarming rates of use among teens. "Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, and Wyoming struggles with high smoking rates among adults and teens. ... price increase on other tobacco products, Wyoming residents will continue to bear the burden of low tobacco prices and the high taxpayer cost of treating tobacco-related disease." Research shows that regular and significant increases in the tax on tobacco products is one of the most ...

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