Cigarette-tax increase would improve health

To the editor:

I grew up in the Cape Girardeau area and graduated from Nell Holcomb School, Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University. As a third-year medical student at the University of Missouri, I urge my home community to vote yes for proposition A.

Proposition A would have significant impact on Missouri health care, especially for children and seniors. Proposition A would raise the state tax on cigarettes 55 cents. This would bring our state to approximately the national average.

Funds would be earmarked so they can't be shifted from their purpose like the tobacco settlement. Funding would increase Medicaid reimbursement to physicians and hospitals so access to primary care would increase and patients would use less emergency-room resources. Funding would help seniors with the cost of medications. Trauma centers would see increased funds. Smoking cessation could be implemented. And early childhood education centers would benefit.

Other states increasing taxes have seen a 4 percent decrease in adult smokers and a 7 percent decrease in children for every 10 percent increase in the tax. Yearly, over 10,000 Missourians die from tobacco-related diseases and 17,000 children become regular smokers. Of all children alive in Missouri right now, 134,000 will die an early death. Financially, this creates a $700 burden on each Missourian. I feel that its time those creating it take some financial responsibility.

ANGELA S. FORNKOHL BLUM

Columbia, Mo.