Cigarette User Fee Endorsement Form

Because, increasing the cigarette user fee by $1.00 per pack will dramatically reduce teen and adult smoking, saving lives and reducing state health care costs; and
Because, Florida’s current cigarette user fee ranks 46th among the 50 states and D.C; and
Because, 43 states have increased their respective cigarette user fees since 2002, while Florida has not increased its cigarette user fee since 1990; and
Because, more than 3.8 million people in Florida are uninsured, and therefore likely to lack timely access to quality, affordable health care, which in turn puts their health at significant risk; and
Because, persons suffering from smoking-related illnesses, persons with catastrophic medical costs, and children and pregnant women who lack health coverage are particularly vulnerable; and
Because, services provided by doctors under the Medicaid program are reimbursed at a rate lower than that of any other state in the southeastern United States, thereby limiting physician participation and threatening the viability of Medicaid; and
Because, each time an uninsured person receives care in the emergency room but cannot pay their bills, the costs are passed along to taxpayers and those currently with insurance coverage; and
Because, reducing the number of uninsured Floridians will save lives AND reduce health care premiums for those with insurance.

My organization supports increasing the cigarette user fee by $1.00 per pack:
• expand health coverage for children and pregnant women
• help low-wage working families obtain health coverage
• strengthen the Medicaid program and increase access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries
• protect seniors, people with disabilities, people suffering from smoking-related illnesses and others with high health care costs

My organization will contribute to this campaign by:
Signing on as an endorser of HFA’s proposal to increase Florida’s cigarette user fee by $1.00 per pack.

• Providing HFA with email lists for campaign database
• Including campaign information in your newsletter/providing an HFA link on your website
• Providing volunteers for campaign activities
• Inviting member of campaign staff to speak to your membership

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Name of Organization                                             

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Contact Person                                         Title

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Address                      City                        State                          Zip  
  
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Email address               Phone                                             Fax

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Website Address 
                                                                                             

Best way to contact you:    __ Email      __Phone    ___ Fax

Fax completed form to 561-691-4062 OR email to laurag@floridachain.org OR mail to Healthy Florida Alliance / c/o Florida CHAIN / 3167-B Gardens East Drive / Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. 
For more information, call 954-213-8647.