Tobacco

Tobacco is a leading cause of chronic illness and death in Kansas. Legal efforts to curb or mitigate its use through statewide restrictions have been a source of heated debate. State lawmakers after multiple attempts have passed a statewide smoking ban and are considering increasing the tobacco tax. At least 35 Kansas cities and three counties enacted local restrictions before state lawmakers agreed to a statewide ban. KHI research and news reports focus on the policies dealing with tobacco control and their consequences.

Photo by Jim McLean

New poll shows wide support for smoke-free law

Public health coalition engages Republican polling firm

0 | Advocacy, Legislature, Tobacco

Results of a statewide poll released today show that 77 percent of Kansas voters support the new state law that prohibits smoking in most public places. Support crosses party lines. Most smokers also favor the law, according to the survey.

Policy and Research

Memo to House Health and Human Services Committee on secondhand smoke impacts

0 | Feb. 15, 2010 | Tobacco

The House Health and Human Services Committee requested additional information from the Kansas Health Institute on the impacts of secondhand smoke on three areas.

Testimony - Statewide Smoking Bans: A Research Perspective (2010 HB 2642)

0 | Feb. 11, 2010 | KHI Legislative Testimony, Tobacco

In testimony to the House Health and Human Services Committee, KHI summarizes the research about the impact of smoke-free policies.

Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-Free Ordinance

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Community Health, Tobacco

There has been much debate about the impact of Lawrence's comprehensive smoke-free ordinance on the restaurant and bar industry. This KHI study indicates that the ordinance did not negatively affect the industry as a whole.

Testimony to 2009 Legislature on state-wide smoke-free legislation

0 | Mar. 10, 2009 | KHI Legislative Testimony

The Kansas Health Institute provided information to the Kansas Legislature and stakeholders regarding various bills that would have created a state-wide smoke-free law in 2009.

More in Tobacco Research

Bills aimed at youth ‘pharm parties’ and use of e-cigs before committee

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | Children, Tobacco

Two bills before a House corrections committee are aimed at growing problems among youths in Leavenworth County, according to county officials.

Kansas gets an F for tobacco control and prevention

0 | Jan. 19, 2012 | Community Health, Tobacco

The American Lung Association gave Kansas a D for its cigarette tax and an F for tobacco prevention in a report card released as part of the group's annual update on state tobacco control measures.

Kansas Supreme Court hears arguments in smoking ban case

0 | Dec. 07, 2011 | Tobacco

At issue is whether the lower court erred in temporarily suspending the ban for a narrow group of private clubs.

Nearly all Kansas retailers complying with new tobacco law, FDA data shows

0 | Nov. 17, 2011 | Community Health, Tobacco

Kansas retailers were in violation of new tobacco control laws 19 times out of 2,036 inspections performed in the year since the state received federal funding to check compliance

Judge grants injunction blocking new tobacco warnings

0 | Nov. 07, 2011 | Courts, Tobacco

A federal judge has granted an injunction blocking the use of new, graphic warning labels that federal health officials want added to cigarette packs and tobacco advertising.

Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

1 | Feb. 06, 2012 | Budget, Children, Legislature

Citing uncertainty in the amount of money Kansas will receive from major tobacco companies as part of a long-standing legal settlement, Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting $16 million from programs that promote parenting skills and early childhood development.

Issue Brief: The Growing Health and Financial Costs of Inadequate Health Insurance

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Health Insurance, Underinsurance

This introduction to the issue of underinsurance discusses the difficulty in determining what constitutes underinsurance and alerts policymakers to issues they should consider when addressing this issue.

Brownback appoints Gilmore new SRS secretary, unveils ERO

0 | Feb. 03, 2012 | KDHE, KDoA, SRS, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback today appointed former legislator Phyllis Gilmore to be secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, following the troubled tenure of Rob Siedlecki, who resigned in December after just a year at the post.

Bills aimed at youth ‘pharm parties’ and use of e-cigs before committee

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | Children, Tobacco

Two bills before a House corrections committee are aimed at growing problems among youths in Leavenworth County, according to county officials.

Attorney says bilking Medicaid is easy

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery, Medicaid-CHIP

The head of the Medicaid fraud unit at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office told lawmakers it was easy to cheat programs that provide in-home services for the disabled and the frail elderly.

RWJF posts Dole forum videos

0 | Sep. 11, 2008 | Imported

TOPEKA, Sept. 11 - Videos of the recent health-care forum at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics have been posted on the Web site of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

1 | Feb. 06, 2012 | Budget, Children, Legislature

Citing uncertainty in the amount of money Kansas will receive from major tobacco companies as part of a long-standing legal settlement, Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting $16 million from programs that promote parenting skills and early childhood development.

Video: Community Water Fluoridation

3 | Jun. 22, 2011 | About KHI

In this video, KHI senior analyst Tatiana Lin discusses community water fluoridation from a public health perspective.

SRS defends change in food stamp policy

1 | Jan. 30, 2012 | Children, SRS, Legislature, Nutrition

A top official at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services defended a change in policy that has resulted in at least 1,000 children being dropped from the state’s food stamp program.

Governor hints at money targeted for waiting-list problem

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Government, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday hinted that his administration might use a portion of the revenues gained from his proposed elimination of the state’s earned income tax credit to help reduce long-standing waiting lists for services for the disabled.

Bill would take developmentally disabled services out of Medicaid makeover plan

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Legislature

A Wichita lawmaker has introduced a bill that would remove long-term care services for the developmentally disabled from the governor's plan to expand Medicaid managed care.

Cuts in mental health funding affect veterans

1 | Jan. 17, 2012 | Legislature, Mental Health

Recent cuts in community mental health center budgets are harming veterans and their families, according to a center director.

More in Tobacco News