Other Policy
Research
Medicaid coverage of tobacco-dependence treatment for pregnant women: Impact of the Affordable Care Act
A recent study analyzed the impact of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement for Medicaid to cover tobacco-dependence treatments for pregnant women. The ACA requirement began in 2010, and between 2009 and 2010, coverage for pharmacotherapy treatments increased by 8%, from 43 programs covering pharmacotherapy to 51. Coverage for tobacco cessation counseling increased from 30 to 38 programs. Additional coverage for counseling was added in various states in 2011 and 2012 after the study period concluded. In order to increase pregnant women’s awareness of the availability of these programs, more outreach is needed. Click here to read the abstract of the study, which was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Reports
New health policy website
The National Governors Association, a bipartisan public policy organization comprised of the nation’s governors, has announced the launch of a new health policy website. The website is a virtual resource center that facilitates policymakers’ search for solutions to health policy problems. The site includes innovative approaches to improving the public’s health by featuring expert analyses and case studies from various states. Click here to access this website.
American Heart Association launches new advocacy website, YouretheCure.org
The American Heart Association has launched an online community, You’re the Cure, to enable participants to communicate with legislators, connect with other local advocates, and stay up to date on heart and stroke issues that are most relevant to them. Key issues include tobacco control, cardiovascular disease prevention, stroke, obesity prevention, and systems of care. Click here to access the website.
NALBOH releases state-specific fact sheets on tobacco funding
The National Association of Local Boards of Health's (NALBOH) state-specific fact sheets focus on states that are receiving a failing grade on tobacco prevention and control program spending. These fact sheets are available for free PDF download. Click here to access the fact sheets.
Children's cabinet told to plan for 75 percent cut (KS)
Due to the ongoing negotiations related to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund may lose millions of dollars in MSA funding. One of the conditions of the 1998 settlement was that each state involved was to require the smaller cigarette manufacturers to pay a $6 per carton fee in order to prevent an unequal playing field versus the big companies. The large tobacco companies have accused Kansas and 30 other states of not enforcing that condition, which has resulted in these states having to resume out-of-court negotiations with the companies. Kansas Children’s Cabinet supports early childhood development programs by improving kindergarten readiness. The Cabinet and other organizations like them that depend on money from the settlement risk losing millions of dollars if the negotiations do not end in the states’ favor. Click here to read more.
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State Policy
Law cracks down on tobacco sales to minors (CA)
A tobacco related bill was signed by the Governor of California on September 30. The bill increases penalties for selling tobacco products to minors. Previous penalties included a warning letter for the first violation, and a revocation of the offender’s retailer license only after the eighth violation within two years. This bill will include stricter rules that require all violations to result in a fine with increases based on the amount of violations within five years. Additionally, the fifth violation results in revoking the retailer’s tobacco retail license. Click here to read more about the bill, or click here to read the full text of AB1301.
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