By Tony McVeigh, Paco Long-Mendez
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky advocates of a smoking cessation program approved in 2007 are calling for funding for the program, which has yet to receive a single state dollar. We get more from Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh.
Two years ago, Rep. John Will Stacy sponsored legislation creating a comprehensive smoking cessation program that included counseling and medications. But the state has never funded the program, which covers 285-thousand smokers on Kentucky Medicaid. Dr. Jon White of the Kentucky Medical Association says it's an untenable situation because the program, if funded, could save lives and money. "That's sound policy from a healthcare and fiscally responsible perspective."
The program requires the state to put up one-point-five million dollars to receive three-point-five million in federal matching dollars. A spokesperson for the governor agrees it's a worthy program, but says in these tight budget times the governor has not been able to find the state's share. It remains to be seen if the funding will be part of the governor's next biennial budget proposal.