The California Medical Association welcomed the recent ground-shifting proposal from legislative leaders on health care reform, and announced its support for using funds from an increased tobacco tax to pay for expanded health care.

"This proposal could break the logjam on health care reform discussions," said Richard S. Frankenstein, M.D., President of the California Medical Association. "Using tobacco dollars to pay for expanded access to health care for Californians is the kind of breakthrough common sense proposal we've been looking for this year."

"This proposal signals a real commitment by legislative leaders to find a way past the current stalemate on health care. We're hopeful that this proposal provides a path for the Governor and other stakeholders to sit down at the table and finish the job we started last January."

The CMA also pointed out the direct link between tobacco dollars and expanding access to health care. "Universal access to health care means more Californians getting primary and preventative care, more Californians enrolled in smoking cessation programs, and fewer health care dollars spent on tobacco-related health problems," said Frankenstein, a physician who specializes in taking care of adults with lung disease.

cmanet