Connecticut Cigarette Tax Increase Delivers Victory for Kids and Taxpayers; $1 Increase Gives State Second Highest Cigarette Tax in ... (s have chosen not to take advantage of a...)

HOME >> MEDICINE >> NEWS

Connecticut Cigarette Tax Increase Delivers Victory for Kids and Taxpayers; $1 Increase Gives State Second Highest Cigarette Tax in the Nation

Date:9/2/2009

s have chosen not to take advantage of a golden opportunity to raise a lot more money; money that could be used to increase funding for the state's tobacco prevention program and to help provide cessation assistance through the state's Medicaid program. Connecticut continues to be one of the last states to not provide any cessation coverage for its Medicaid recipients, and is still near the bottom of all the states with regard to tobacco prevention funding.

Governor Jodi Rell proposed the increase in the cigarette tax this session. The state Legislature approved the tobacco tax increase this week and Governor Rell is allowing the budget to become law without her signature. By supporting a higher cigarette tax, Connecticut's leaders have taken action that will improve the health of Connecticut residents for generations to come and continue the state's leadership in the fight against tobacco use, the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States. The tobacco tax increases take effect on October 1.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Connecticut, claiming 4,700 lives each year and costing the state $1.63 billion annually in health care bills, including $430 million in Medicaid payments alone. Government expenditures related to tobacco amount to a hidden tax of $680 each year on every Connecticut household. While Connecticut has made significant progress in reducing youth smoking, 21.1 percent of Connecticut high school students smoke, and 4,600 more kids become regular smokers every year.

With Connecticut's tax increase, the average state cigarette tax is now $1.34 per pack. Connecticut is the second state with a cigarette tax of $3 or more, Rhode Island being the first. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia will now have cigarette tax rates of $2 per pack or more, and 26 states and DC have cigarette tax rates of $1 per pack or more. South Carolina (a tobacco growi
'/>"/>

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. BlueCare(R) Family Plan, a HUSKY Health Plan from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut, Raises Awareness, Funds and Diapers for New Haven Diaper Bank
2. Connecticut Bishops Back Down over Provision of Emergency Contraception
3. Connecticut Catholic Conference Wrong to Allow Plan B in Catholic Hospitals
4. CAS Medical Systems, Inc. Ranked Among Connecticuts Fastest Growing Technology Companies
5. Connecticut Girl Fights Rare Neurological Disease
6. SPOC, Inc. announces completion of $300,000 follow-on investment by Connecticut Innovations
7. Connecticut Trial Lawyers Ask Doctors to Question Insurers Excess Profits
8. Connecticut Bioscience Achievement Awards Presented at CURE Annual Meeting
9. Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Launches Southwest Connecticut Chapter
10. Connecticut Kids Kick Butts on April 2
11. Cepheid Selected as Vendor of Choice by Connecticut Hospital Association Shared Services Program for Molecular MRSA Surveillance Testing

Post Your Comments:

Connecticut Cigarette Tax Increase Delivers Victory for Kids and Taxpayers; $1 Increase Gives State Second Highest Cigarette Tax in ...(s have chosen not to take advantage of a...),Health