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California Healthline
November 23, 2005
Two proposals to raise the state tobacco tax to fund health
programs could appear on next year's ballots, the San Francisco
Chronicle reports. Both proposals would increase the cigarette
tax by $1.50 per pack to generate $1.4 billion annually.
The Tobacco Tax, Disease Prevention and Children's
Health Insurance Act of 2006 -- which is supported by several
disease and children's advocacy organizations, including the
American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association
-- would allocate 35%, or $450 million, of the funds to disease
prevention and treatment programs for breast cancer, strokes,
lung disease and other illnesses. The proposal also would
provide about $435 million for health care coverage for uninsured
children and about $270 million for anti-smoking programs.
Supporters of the measure are awaiting approval
from the attorney general to begin collecting signatures for
a ballot initiative. However, some patient advocacy groups
criticized the proposal, saying the measure does not address
certain programs.
Hospital Measure
A separate measure, supported by the hospital industry, would
use almost 65%, or $906 million, of the money to fund hospital
emergency departments. About 9%, or $126 million, would be
allotted to nursing education, with the same amount allotted
for smoking prevention programs. The remaining 17% would fund
other programs, such as those for emergency doctors and breast
cancer research.
ED doctors and hospital officials say the
Emergency Services and Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 would provide
funding for urgently needed medical services. The measure
could qualify for the June ballot.
Opponents of the measure -- including Health
Access California, the California Medical Association, the
California Nurses Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Kids -- say it would give hospitals too much control over
how the money is spent. Public hospitals also oppose the measure
because funding is based on ED patient volume, rather than
on the number of uninsured patients treated (Colliver, San
Francisco Chronicle, 11/22).
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