Tucked away in the corner of this year's health reform bill was money for disease prevention initiatives, including programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use -- the leading cause of preventable death, something that costs us $96 billion a year in health care costs.
The bill expanded Medicaid coverage for smoking-cessation treatments, too. Everyone agreed it was a sound investment in reducing health care costs. Sounds good, right?
According to Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the program's in danger. Why?
Because one Republican senator wants the money to pay for something else:
Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska wants to repeal a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — the health reform law — that requires businesses to report certain transactions to the IRS in order to improve tax collection. To help make up for the revenue that would be lost, the Johanns Amendment would effectively eliminate the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This would gut the program before it has a chance to work.
It's not about the merits of Johann's bill, the group says. It's that preventive care is an important part of our national health, and this is a really bad place from which to take the funds.
If you agree, click here to protest the move.
