copd research and public policies paul billings senior vice president, advocacy and education...
TRANSCRIPT
COPD Research and Public Policies
Paul BillingsSenior Vice President, Advocacy and Education
American Lung Association
April 9, 2013
Agenda
• Congress– Budgets & Appropriations– Tobacco issues– Healthy air issues
• Administration • Call to action
Two Kinds of Advocacy
Advocating for a Patient Advocating for all Patients
The time is NOW to take action on COPD!
Issues
• Federal funding for COPD research funding• Federal COPD action plan• Access to heath care • Preventing tobacco use• Tobacco cessation• Healthy air
Congress
Budget & Appropriations
Current Programs
• National Institutes of Health = $29.1 billion– (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute = $2.926
billion)– COPD-related grants = $108 million (estimate)
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention = $6.524 billion– No specific COPD program
FY 2013 – Post sequestration
Sequestration
Beyond Sequestration
Same number of people/programs competing for increasingly smaller budget
Actions
• NHLBI has taken leadership role in increasing awareness of disease.
• Using NHLBI funding, CDC adding COPD tracking to BRFSS
• NHLBI to convene federal stakeholder group for COPD action plan.
Congress
Tobacco Control
Before the Tobacco Control Act
• No oversight• Candy flavors in
cigarettes allowed• Joe Camel• Manipulation of
ingredients• “Light” and “Low”
cigarettes
Passage of Tobacco Control Act
• 2009• Gave FDA
immediate authority over cigarettes, smokeless and roll-your-own
• Gave FDA option to “deem” authority over other products
Protect FDA’s authority over all tobacco products
The cigar industry wants a “sweetheart” deal
• Cigar bill in 112th Congress:– House - Posey Kastor: 220 cosponsors– Senate: Nelson Rubio Bill:14 cosponsors– Public health community pushed back on
candy-flavored cigars– Wide-ranging definition of “premium” cigars– Ultimately no vote or movement on the bill
Tobacco Control Act: the Latest Challenge
• Cigar bill in the 113th Congress– HR 792 in the House: 41
cosponsors– Senate bill – Nelson Rubio
Bill – expected any day– New, highly technical
definition of “premium” cigars
Tobacco Control Act: the Latest Challenge
Tobacco Excise Taxes
• Raising the price of tobacco products is one of the best ways to reduce consumption
• Every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by– 4% among adults– 7% among youths
• Provides federal & state governments with needed revenue – should go to tobacco prevention and cessation efforts
Federal Excise Tax
• Currently $1.01 for a pack of cigarettes• Last increase was in 2009• Sen. Durbin’s S.194: Tobacco Tax Parity Equity
Act• New York Times: Obama’s budget will include an
increase in tax on cigarettes & other tobacco products including possibly equalization.– To be released tomorrow
State Excise Taxes
Average state cigarette excise tax: $1.49/pack
Lowest: Missouri, 17 cents
Highest: New York, $4.35
Current campaigns: Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio and West Virginia
Smokefree Air
Comprehensive Law, Including Bars and Restaurants
Comprehensive Law Passed, Not Yet in Effect
Strong Law in Effect
Weaker Restrictions
Tobacco Cessation
• State Medicaid coverage– Only 2 states cover a
comprehensive benefit– Removing barriers to treatment
• Affordable Care Implementation
• Tips from Former Smokers
Congress
Healthy Air
COPD & the Air We Breathe
• Breathing high levels of ozone or particle pollution can worsen COPD
• COPD patients are advised to stay inside on bad air days
• Clean Air Act prevents – 54,000 Chronic Bronchitis cases in 2010– 75,000 Chronic Bronchitis cases in 2020– 160,000 Premature Deaths in 2010 (all causes) – 230,000 Premature Deaths in 2020 (all causes)
Defending the Clean Air Act
• Some in Congress want to weaken clean air health protections
• 112th Congress voted nearly 100 times to weaken or dismantle the law
The Obama Administration
Tobacco Regulations
• FDA deeming authority• Menthol report/status
• Affordable Care Act Implementation– Essential Health Benefits– Exchanges– Medicaid expansion
• Slow and confusing implementation
• Not enough focus on protecting patients– Access to medicine
Healthcare Access
Healthy Air Regulations
• EPA has a mixed record– Ozone– Power Plants– Particulate Matter– Cars and gasoline
Call to Action
COPD needs to raise its visibility
• Be present• Be active• Be loud• Be here
Be a Storyteller: Stand with Dan!
• End-stage COPD• Received double lung
transplant• Testified at EPA hearing on
proposed Carbon standard
Come together
National COPD Call-In Day
• June 12, 2013• Call CDC to tell them we
need them to do more for our nation’s #3 killer
• Sign up at www.lung.org/callinday for more information & to receive talking points
We will breathe easier when the air in everyAmerican community is clean and healthy.
We will breathe easier when people are free from the addictivegrip of cigarettes and the debilitating effects of lung disease.
We will breathe easier when the air in our public spaces andworkplaces is clear of secondhand smoke.
We will breathe easier when children no longerbattle airborne poisons or fear an asthma attack.
Until then, we are fighting for air.