Letter to the Editor: Cigarette tax fails to meet Louisiana’s health care needs

CRIMES
May 13, 2015
Body found in Cocodrie identified
May 15, 2015
CRIMES
May 13, 2015
Body found in Cocodrie identified
May 15, 2015

Dear Editor,

As a practicing cardiovascular surgeon in the state of Louisiana I have been working tirelessly to for three decades to achieve tobacco control and smoking cessation for my patients.

Recently, a coalition of The American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Cancer Association and Tobacco Free Living, among others, presented a case for support to the House Ways and Means Committee to increase the cigarette tax from 36 cents a pack, the second lowest in the nation, to $1.54 a pack, the national average.


But an amendment by state Rep Robideaux to make the increase only 32 cents was passed without discussion or debate. This devastates the efforts and only increases the tax to 68 cents, on par with Mississippi, our neighboring state who, along with Louisiana, has the worst health metrics in the nation.

This is completely unacceptable. Our health care expenditures in Louisiana directly attributable to tobacco use is approximately $1.89 billion! A substantial raise in the cigarette tax would prevent over 22,000 premature deaths attributable to smoking. It would prevent nearly 35,000 kids from becoming smokers. Over 43,000 adults would likely quit. Health care savings from fewer smoking- related heart attacks, strokes and lung cancers would total over $22 million with Medicaid savings over $7 million.

Our communities around the state need to demand more from our state representatives and senators. We want our tobacco tax among the national average. It is a public health issue that can improve the lives of thousands of Louisianans and save the lives of tens of thousands of our children. Seventy percent of the population is in favor of this and they need to listen to their constituents.


Mitchell Lirtzman, MD FACS, Chief of Surgery, Regional Medical Center of Louisiana

Lafayette, La.