Massachusetts Action Center

1/28/09

Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program Cut by 42%!

The MTCP is currently funded at $12.25 million.  The Governor’s FY2010 budget proposal would reduce funding to $7.5 million, a 42% reduction from FY2009 levels and less than 1% of the $844 million in total tobacco revenue collected by the state every year. 

Cuts to the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program will:

• Reduce the capacity of the state QuitLine, providing NRTs, quit tips and counseling information to adult smokers who want to try to quit.  This program was used by over 15,000 smokers from July-December 2008. 
• Eliminate the free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (the patch) programs.
• Decrease the number of compliance checks.  We know from the 2002 cuts to tobacco control there was a resulting increase in illegal sales to minors.  Rates went from 8.9% in 2002 to 23% in 2006. 
• Decrease and eliminate many youth prevention programs across the state (MTCP mini-grants).

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Massachusetts; every hour another person dies of tobacco-related illness in the commonwealth.  Every single hour, every single day. This is the first step in the budget process, and we will be turning to YOU to help us work with the Legislature in the coming months to restore funding to the program!

American Cancer Society Tobacco Control Policy Priorities

As a member of Tobacco Free Mass, a statewide health coalition that advocates for tobacco prevention and cessation policy, the American Cancer Society will be focusing on three tobacco control priorities in the coming year:

An Act Ensuring Consistency of Taxation Levels for Non-Cigarette Tobacco Products

This legislation equalizes the tax rates of non-cigarette tobacco products (roll-your-own, smokeless, small cigar-like products such as cigarillos) with the state cigarette excise tax.  The increase in the price of cigarettes due to the recent tax increase drives low income and youth smokers to cheaper and just as deadly alternatives.  This bill would earmark new revenue to increase funding for the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program for increased cessation efforts, and double the blow against tobacco marketers.

Lead sponsor: Representative Jonathan Hecht

 An Act to Provide Coverage for Tobacco Use Cessation Under Commonwealth Care

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Massachusetts. Low-income populations smoke at twice the rate of the privately-insured. This legislation requires programs under Commonwealth Care to provide subscribers with tobacco use cessation treatment.  This treatment includes nicotine replacement therapy or other evidence-based pharmacologic aids and counseling by licensed, qualified clinicians.  

Lead sponsor: Senator Richard Moore & Representative Lori Ehrlich

Restore Funding to the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Massachusetts; roughly 9,000 residents annually lose their lives to tobacco.  The state currently spends $12.25 million – less than 2% of the $844 million it will receive in tobacco revenue – to prevent kids from starting to smoke and help smokers quit.  By contrast, the tobacco industry spends nearly $4 million every week in Massachusetts to market its deadly products.  Continuous counter-marketing, enforcement, and education are key in combating the issue, and spending some money now will save the state future health and economic costs; every dollar invested in tobacco control can save $2 to $3 in health care costs.  This bill would allocate 3% of tobacco revenue for prevention and cessation.

Lead Sponsors: Senator Harriette Chandler & Representative Danielle Gregoire