by Nick Krug

The American Lung Association saw no progress last year in Kansas’ efforts to curb tobacco-related disease, but at least it didn’t take a step backwards, as other states did.

The association released its 10th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report card early Thursday and it noted that Kansas lawmakers defeated an effort to repeal the Indoor Clean Air Act that was passed in 2010 after listening to voters — 77 percent of whom said they supported the law. The law prohibits smoking in all public places and places of employment, including bars and restaurants.

However, in 2011 the Senate failed to pass a provision that would have strengthened the law by eliminating a smoking exemption for casino gaming floors.

Last year was the first time that Kansas received an “A” in one of the four categories on the American Lung Association’s report card and it was because the Indoor Clean Air Act was enacted. This year, it kept its “A” in the “smoke-free” category.

Nevada was the only state to actually weaken its smoke free law by voting to allow smoking in any bar that serves food — despite more than 83 percent of its voters opposing it.

Thomas Carr, director of National Policy for the American Lung Association, said, “Effective policies against tobacco use are proven to be the best way to save lives and health care dollars. State policymakers must step up and close the gap.”

FEDS STEP UP

The American Lung Association lauded the federal government for making significant progress in the battle against tobacco use. In the past year, it:

• Began offering comprehensive quit-smoking benefits to its employees. and families.

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that the government will give states partial reimbursement for quit-smoking counseling services furnished to Medicare enrollees throughout state toll-free numbers called quitlines.

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled new graphic warning laves for cigarette packs which included the national 1-800-QUIT-NOW telephone number. The day the labels were released to the media, calls spiked dramatically. A federal judge blocked the labels in a lawsuit by the tobacco companies. It is under appeal.

Charles Connor, American Lung Association CEO and president, said not only is the tobacco industry fighting policies, but creating new products to get a new generation of Americans hooked. He said they are test-marketing products that deliver nicotine in the form of toothpicks, breath mints and strips that melt in your mouth.

“The federal government has made important progress in the struggle to reduce tobacco use; states however are lagging way behind and many are even losing ground,” he said. “Far too many states are turning away proved interventions and are doing less to keep kids from smoking.”

HOW KANSAS FARED

Kansas’ grades remained the same in three other categories regarding tobacco control policies and regulations: Two “F”s and a “D.”

It received failing grades for:

• Lack of tobacco prevention and control spending. The state spent only $3 million of the approximately $160 million it collected from tobacco settlement and tax money. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends spending $32 million. Alaska was the only state to spend the CDC-recommended level which was $10.7 million. It spent $12 million.

• Limited coverage in cessation treatment programs for Medicaid recipients and state employees. For Medicaid recipients, there are limits on the duration of coverage, an annual limit on quit attempts and co-payments are required. For state employees, counseling is required to get medications, co-payments are required, and there is a dollar limit on benefits. The report also noted that private insurance companies are not required to offer any coverage.

Kansas received a “D” for:

• Cigarette tax of 79 cents per pack. The national average is $1.46 per pack. Only 15 states have a lower cigarette tax rate. The rates range from $4.35 in New York to 17 cents in Missouri. The last time Kansas raised its cigarette tax was in 2003 with a 9-cent increase. Only two states raised their taxes last year: Vermont raised its tax 38 cents to $2.62 per pack and Connecticut’s went up 40 cents to $3.40.

The report also provided these Kansas statistics, followed by the national numbers:

• Economic costs due to smoking — $1.7 billion; $192 billion.

• Adult smoking rate — 17 percent; 19 percent.

• High school smoking rate — 17 percent; 19 percent.

• Middle school smoking rate — 4.3 percent; 5.2 percent.

• Tobacco-related deaths annually — 3,800; 392,000.