TOBACCO SETTLEMENT: Proposed Budget Devotes Funds to Health, Anti-Smoking Programs
Releasing his 2000-2001 budget this week, Gov. Gray Davis (D) proposed to allocate this year's $387.9 million share of the state's tobacco settlement to health care services for low-income families, anti-smoking campaigns and research on tobacco-related diseases, the AP/Sacramento Bee reports. Half of the settlement will go the 58 counties and four cities involved in the 1998 suit. Under the budget proposal, funding for Medi-Cal, the Healthy Families Program and other health initiatives would increase by $1.5 billion. The proposed budgetary increases include:
- $111.5 to cover health care costs for low-income children, seniors and veterans;
- $245.8 million to expand Medi-Cal benefits to working poor and two-parent families;
- $23.9 million to improve nursing and medical care for veterans homes;
- $55 million for hospitals and trauma care centers that treat a disproportionate number of low-income and uninsured patients;
- $25.7 million more for the statewide anti-tobacco campaign;
- $100 million for biomedical research at University of California teaching hospitals;
- Additional funds will be allocated to provide anti-smoking counseling at all 86 WIC program offices
AIDS Group Disappointed
The California HIV Advocacy Coalition (CHAC) yesterday expressed disappointment with the proposed 2000-2001 budget -- which fails to increase funding for most HIV/AIDS programs. Although CHAC applauded the governor's decisions to fully fund the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program and add $4.8 million to implement a new program providing Medi-Cal eligibility for the working disabled, the organization argued that rising HIV infection rates in minority communities warrant more prevention programs. CHAC spokesperson Helyne Meshar said, "We are disappointed that the governor has not significantly expanded the state's commitment to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in his proposed budget. The number of people living with AIDS in California has increased nearly 200% in the past five years. It is imperative that the state budget reflect this fact." CHAC called on the state to increase HIV prevention efforts and provide care and services for those currently infected with the disease (CHAC release, 1/10).