BOSTON — Massachusetts this year slipped to second place in an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network ranking of states supporting policies aimed at cancer prevention, and advocates say banning tobacco sales to people under 21 is the next step the state should take to fight the disease.
The annual report uses a color-coded system to measure state policies dealing with tobacco, indoor tanning, health insurance and other areas. Massachusetts received “green” rankings — which indicate the adoption of evidence-based policies and best practices — on its cigarette tax rates, smoke-free laws, Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation services, restrictions on indoor tanning, increased access to Medicaid, and access to palliative care.
Massachusetts earned a “red” designation, indicating it is “falling short” of benchmarks, for tobacco prevention and cessation program funding. On pain policy and funding for early detection of breast and cervical cancer, it was graded “yellow,” which shows some progress toward the benchmarks.
According to the report, Massachusetts allocated $3.9 million for tobacco prevention funding last fiscal year, or less than 6 percent of the $66.9 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state is at 93 percent of the recommended funding for breast and cervical cancer screening programs.
California, which scored first place, and Massachusetts were the only two states in the country to meet the Cancer Action Network’s benchmarks in at least six of the nine areas measured. The Bay State topped last year’s rankings.
This year, Massachusetts was one of nine states that the report said provide “comprehensive tobacco cessation coverage” through its Medicaid program, including individual, group and telephone counseling as well as covering the seven federally approved tobacco-cessation medications.
According to the network, over 37,130 people in Massachusetts will be diagnosed with cancer this year.
“We owe it to them and everyone at risk of developing the disease, to do what we know works to improve cancer prevention efforts, curb tobacco use, prioritize the quality of life for patients and their families and increase access to critical health coverage,” Marc Hymovitz, the director of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Massachusetts, said in a statement.
The network backs a bill that would increase the minimum sale age for tobacco products from 18 to 21, prohibit the use of e-cigarettes where smoking is already banned, and prohibit tobacco sales in pharmacies and other health facilities. A version of the bill passed the Senate 32-2 last year.
Senate Public Health Committee Chairman Jason Lewis, whose committee is considering the bill, in June called raising the tobacco age a “critical public health issue.”
Maine on Tuesday became the fourth state to ban the sale of tobacco products to people under 21 — joining Hawaii, California and New Jersey — after lawmakers voted to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Oregon’s Legislature has also passed such a bill.
In his veto message, LePage wrote that the bill would hurt convenience and grocery stores, “which will lose sales of tobacco and other products to neighboring New Hampshire,” and boost the black market for tobacco products. He described the bill as an “attempt at ‘social engineering’ by those who do not respect the rights and responsibilities our society vests in our citizens when they become 18.”
“In addition to the right to vote and serve in the military, our laws provide 18-year-olds the right to marry and divorce and make decisions about medical treatment,” LePage wrote. “The responsibility to pay taxes and be tried as adults if accused of a crime also come with turning 18. I cannot support legislation that denies the right to purchase a legal product to those who are otherwise treated as adults.