Mississippi Health Summits

The Communities for a Clean Bill of Health are hosting a series of Health Summits this week to discuss the health and economic benefits of increasing the state cigarette tax. Anna Hill and I spoke at the summits in Meridian and Tupelo. WCBI's coverage of the summit in Tupelo can be found here under the News section

BPA and the Precautionary Principle

On Morning Edition this morning, NPR spent several minutes covering the issue of BPA and the Precautionary Principle. The story does a good job of capturing the tension between the need to protect public health and the complexities of interpreting the precautionary principle. Guest on the program, Ted Schettler defines the Precautionary Principle as such "When there are credible threats of harm from some proposed activity, precautionary action should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully understood."

And there is the rub. How do we establish the point at which the evidence of risk from correlational research is sufficient to justify government regulation of some product or activity? The situation is obviously complicated by the fact that the product or activity in question may be very profitable to an industry or the activity might be very popular among many voters.

Obama Makes Health Reform Office Official

Nancy-Ann DeParle will oversee this office.

CL reports that Governor Barbour mum on cigarette tax level he'll OK

The Clarion Ledger quotes Governor Barbour on his position and concerns regarding an increase in the state cigarette tax. One of his concerns is that some Legislators will over estimate new revenue, particularly in a poor state during a recession. This issue has been addressed many times by health policy economists. Based on years of socioeconomic studies, conservative models developed by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids project that a $1 increase in the state cigarette tax can prevent 26,300 kids form smoking and raise $135 million in new revenue. It's important to understand that the estimates are based on conservative assumptions, in order not overestimate the benefits of a tax increase.

This NYT article on health insurers highlights rising costs of health care, as well as the changing forces on the health insurance industry. One point that resonates with me - the industry must prove that it does more than serve as a middleman between doctors and hospitals providing the care and those who pay for it. This issue is critical, given that many people and businesses can no longer afford to pay for health plans and the AND the mood of the President and Congress.

Cigarette tax logjam ridiculous this session

Sid Salter offers a scathing rebuke of the Mississippi Legislature for failing to reach a compromise on the state cigarette tax increase. In this column, he refers to the strong public support for an increase in the tax. Indeed, findings from the 2008 Mississippi Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Control demonstrate that less than 30% of Mississippi adults are opposed to a one dollar increase in the state cigarette tax.

Legislators: Higher car tags or higher cigarette taxes?

Sid Salter continues to push the Mississippi Legislature to increase the state cigarette tax

Fighting cancer a win for both parties

Interesting perspective on the history and future of the War on Cancer