|
California Healthline
November 28, 2005
California Medical Association CEO Jack Lewin
and other groups say disease and children's avocacy organizations
and the hospital industry should negotiate a new ballot initiative
to increase the tobacco tax for health care funding, rather
than introduce competing measures, the Sacramento Bee reports
(Benson, Sacramento Bee, 11/24).
Two proposals to raise the state tobacco tax
to fund health programs could appear on next year's ballots.
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
(California Healthline, 11/23). The measure could
appear on the November 2006 ballot (Sacramento Bee,
11/24).
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 to smoking prevention programs. The remaining
17% would fund other programs, such as those for emergency
doctors and breast cancer research.
The measure could qualify for the June 2006
ballot (California Healthline, 11/23). Collaboration
Needed, Lewin Says Lewin said competing measures would make
it easier for opponents of the measures, including tobacco
companies, to fight both (Rau, Los Angeles Times,
11/28).
Philip Morris USA spokesperson Bill Phelps
said the company has not taken an official position on the
proposed measures but generally opposes "excessive tax
rates" (Sacramento Bee, 11/24).
Paul Knepprath, a vice president for the lung
association, said health advocates tried to negotiate a joint
initiative, but "we weren't able to get to an agreement"
with hospitals.
Kristine Deutschman, a spokesperson for the
ED measure, said failed negotiations were a matter of "differences
in priorities" (Los Angeles Times, 11/28).
|
