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Quarterly News from the WI Cancer Council Policy Committee | Aug. 2019
Two Bills Focus on Tobacco and Vaping
The Wisconsin State Legislature is considering two bills that would limit access and use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping products.
 
Senate Bill 364, commonly referred to as Tobacco 21, would raise the minimum sale age for tobacco products from 18 to 21, and would ban the sale of vaping products to anyone under age 21. However, the legislation does not include licensing requirements for vape shops similar to those that apply to tobacco retailers, which could pose challenges for enforcement.
 
A second bill would add e-cigarettes and other vaping products to the state's Clean Indoor Air Act. Currently, the state smoking ban prohibits the indoor public use of cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products, but does not apply to vaping products. Local governments are allowed to regulate vaping within their jurisdictions, and presently nearly a dozen local governments in Wisconsin have banned vaping in enclosed workspaces, bars, and restaurants.
 
Both bills follow a regional trend. Illinois recently became the first state in the Midwest to raise the minimum sale age for tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and alternative nicotine products to 21. And effective Aug. 1, Minnesota amended its Clean Indoor Air Act to expand the definition of smoking to include "vaping, the use of electronic delivery devices (also known as e-cigarettes or vapes)."

RELATED 
RESOURCES

E-Cigarette Public Health Advisory - WI Department of Health Services

Tobacco is Changing - Tobacco Prevention and Control Program


How Do You Measure Up? - American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Palliative Care Issue Brief - WI Cancer Council


2019 County Cancer Profiles - WI Cancer Council
State Budget Finalized
Gov. Tony Evers used his executive powers to issue 78 partial vetoes to the 2019-2021 state budget, which he signed into law on July 3, 2019. The final $81 billion, two-year budget included a new tax on vaping products and additional funding for programs of interest to WI Cancer Council members.
 
The Governor's original budget proposal called for a 71% tax on vaping fluids and devices. The Joint Finance Committee rejected this proposal and instead adopted a 5-cent-per-milliliter tax on vaping fluid only - the equivalent of a 3-cent tax on a .750 Juul pod. Although this tax is expected to generate $5.5 million over two years, it is among the lowest vaping taxes in the country. By comparison, Wisconsin's tax on regular cigarettes is $2.52 per pack, the 12 th highest in the nation.
 
The final budget called for $200,000 in additional funding the Wisconsin Well Woman Program. The Well Woman program offers mammograms, Pap tests, and cervical cancer screenings for women ages 45-64 who have little or no health insurance coverage.
 
The budget also included $10 million in state funds to the Medical College of Wisconsin toward a new cancer research facility.  
 
The final budget did not include a number of the Governor's initial budget proposals. The Joint Finance Committee rejected Evers' proposals to expand Medicaid eligibility for parents, caretaker relatives, and childless adults with household incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level; add $6.6 million over two years toward the state's tobacco cessation programs; and legalize medical marijuana for individuals with serious medical conditions such as cancer.
Step Therapy Bill Becomes Law
Step therapy protocols legislation was adopted by the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate, and signed into law on July 9, 2019, by Gov. Tony Evers.
 
The new law simplifies the appeals process for patients when insurance companies deny coverage for doctor-prescribed therapies until less expensive therapies are tried first. The law applies to cancer patients, as well as a host of other chronic diseases.
 
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

>>   Bipartisan legislation to create a  statewide palliative care advisory council has gained 30 sponsors and has been referred to committee. (Learn more about palliative care in Wisconsin in our updated issue brief .)

>> The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network recently released the latest How Do You Measure Up?, a national report that measures each state's progress toward issues affecting cancer patients and survivors. Wisconsin is considered "falling short" in four of the eight categories. A special section of the 2019 report examines Tobacco 21 policies.

>>  Medicare now provides national coverage for CAR-T cancer therapy , an innovative and highly expensive treatment, though Medicare reimburses hospitals for only a portion of the cost. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed   increasing Medicare hospital reimbursements  for CAR-T cancer therapy beginning in 2020. However, the increased payments still   would fall short of covering  what hospitals are charged by CAR-T drug manufacturers.

>> Two Assembly bills would change  how Wisconsin residents are able to purchase alcohol.  AB 362 (known as  "Click and Collect") would preempt local action to regulate the online ordering of alcohol and parking lot pick-up at grocery stores and restaurants. A second bill,  AB 363, would allow third-party home delivery of alcohol by grocery stores and restaurants to customers who have ordered by phone or online.
Have you registered for the  2019 WI Cancer Summit?

Oct. 16-17, 2019
Wisconsin Dells, WI


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