ACS on Gov. Cuomo's Proposed Budget

Statement from Blair Horner, Vice President for Advocacy, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ, regarding Gov. Cuomo’s proposed 2012-2013 state budget.

“Gov. Cuomo properly diagnoses cancer issues as a priority, but initial review shows some of his recommended therapies may be too weak. While we are encouraged that language creating a health insurance exchange was included and that funding for cancer screenings for the uninsured was maintained, the state’s anti-tobacco program remains woefully underfunded, given the billions in NYS revenue from tobacco.

But it’s not too late to dedicate the funding necessary to combat the devastation caused by tobacco. The American Cancer Society urges the Gov. and lawmakers to work together to increase funding for anti-tobacco programming in the 2012-2013 NYS budget.”

American Cancer Society budget recommendations:

Tobacco Prevention
•    The governor proposed a $5 million cut for the NYS Tobacco Control Program. Despite the fact that the state raises more than $2 billion in tobacco revenues, this program has been cut in half over the past three years and additional cuts will mean less help for smokers trying to quit. The Governor proposes taxing loose tobacco at the same rate as cigarettes, bringing in an addition $18 million that could be spent on anti-tobacco programs.
Health Insurance Exchange
•    The governor proposes the creation of a health insurance exchange to offer health insurance to New York’s nearly 3 million uninsured, as well as to small businesses. His proposal establishes a governing board that is not guaranteed to be free of conflicts of interest. No one serving on the board should work for interests that may have a financial stake in the exchange.
NYS Cancer Services Program
•    The governor proposes funding for the New York State Cancer Services Program at $26.7 million, the same level as last year. This lifesaving program provides free breast, cervical and colon cancer screening to the uninsured and underinsured. Lawmakers should follow the governor’s lead.

###

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.