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Now, a bigger and stronger coalition of health care advocates is pushing Governor Steve Beshear to do what the General Assembly did not, find the dollars to pay for it. Medicaid recipients have a higher rate of smoking than the general population. Kentucky leads the nation in the percentage of both the population who smokes and smoking related deaths. Passport, the Medicaid administrator for the Louisville Metro area, decided to offer the smoking cessation benefit for its clients, unilaterally, saying it's not only a good human decision but a good business decision. However, the governor is facing a growing budget shortfall and will be hard-pressed to increase spending in one area while cutting nearly everywhere else. Here is the news release from the health care adocates calling for the new line item in the governor's budget: NEW COALITION OF KENTUCKY HEALTH CARE ADVOCATES CALLS UPON GOVERNOR TO FUND MEDICAID QUIT SMOKING PROGRAM FRANKFORT, KY - A broad coalition of Kentucky health care advocates this week delivered a letter calling upon Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to fully fund a Medicaid smoking cessation program created by the legislature in 2007, but never funded. Kentucky is one of only five states not to offer such a program. Passed into law in 2007, HB 337 created a comprehensive smoking cessation program, including counseling and medications, for the 285,000 smokers on Kentucky Medicaid. Unfortunately, no funding was attached and the program has languished for two years as an unfunded mandate. "We commend Governor Beshear's leadership in increasing the tax on tobacco products this year, and ask that he continue the momentum toward a healthy Kentucky by funding the $1.5 million needed to implement a smoking cessation benefit for the smokers in our Medicaid population," said Sarah J. Wilding, President of the Kentucky Public Health Association. Kentucky has the highest adult smoking rate - and highest smoking-related death rate - in the country. Yet, for approximately $5 million ($1.5 from Kentucky and $3.5 in Federal matching funds), the Commonwealth could save thousands of lives and reduce our state's Medicaid costs by millions per year. "Since Kentucky Medicaid is already spending an estimated $1.2 billion each year to treat Kentuckians suffering from smoking related illnesses, the investment of $1.5 million will more than make up for itself by helping to decrease that figure by getting people off of cigarettes," said Tonya Chang of the American Heart Association, on behalf of the coalition. The coalition of 26 organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Kentucky Voices for Health, Kentucky Public Health Association and the Kentucky Medical Association, also plan to hold a rally in Frankfort on the morning of October 21. A copy of the letter to Governor Beshear along with a list of the organizations who have signed in support is available below. ###
We commend you for your leadership in increasing the tax on tobacco products this year, and ask you to continue the momentum toward a healthy Kentucky by funding a smoking cessation benefit for the 285,000 smokers in our Medicaid population. As you know, Kentucky is one of only five states that does not provide a comprehensive smoking cessation program for its Medicaid recipients. In comparison, Kentucky ranks as one of the top ten states for economic development and regularly touts its low energy costs. As Governor, you can change another important indicator for the Commonwealth by improving the health of our poorest and most vulnerable citizens through a comprehensive smoking cessation program including counseling and pharmacological treatments. Kentucky has the highest adult smoking rate - and highest smoking-related death rate - in the country. Yet, for approximately $5 million ($1.5 from Kentucky and $3.5 in Federal matching funds), the Commonwealth could save thousands of lives and reduce our state's Medicaid costs by millions per year. It is time for Kentucky to take a stand to improve the poor smoking status that, according to the CDC, costs our Medicaid program an estimated $500 million annually. According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Web site, "annually, Medicaid and Medicare costs exceed $1.2 billion for treatment of Kentuckians suffering smoking-related diseases and conditions. This equals $300 for each of the 4 million people living in Kentucky." We urge you to continue to make tobacco prevention and smoking cessation a funding priority by including a line-item in your 2010 budget for $1.5 million to fully fund counseling and medications for Medicaid beneficiaries. As you recall, HB 337 passed in 2007 but has remained unfunded. During a July interview with Louisville's WHAS11 News, Secretary Janie Miller indicated that the Cabinet has not followed through because the General Assembly has not provided the funds to do so. This is unacceptable to the over 70% of the Medicaid beneficiaries across Kentucky who are interested in quitting and need the assistance of a comprehensive smoking cessation program. Please be the Governor who gives the 285,000 smokers on Medicaid who want to quit the support they need to live healthier and more productive lives. Why are we denying the rest of Kentucky's Medicaid population this same benefit? Smoking poses a significant health and economic threat to our state. We deserve to have a healthy Kentucky and this is one piece of the healthcare pie that can save money and lives. Offering comprehensive smoking cessation program to all of Kentucky's Medicaid population will not only improve the health of a vulnerable population but also help stem the rising costs of treating smoking-related illness and disease. Your leadership is the only way to make this happen and make a significant difference for the Commonwealth. The undersigned organizations urge you to include funding in your 2010 Budget for a comprehensive smoking cessation program and help KY achieve a positive health rating among other states and proactively save Medicaid dollars.
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