U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Iowa

Last updated December 04, 2012

  FY2013 FY2012
State Rank 29 28
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $3.1 million $3.3 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($36.7 million)		 8.7% 8.9%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Iowa spend $36.7 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Iowa currently allocates $3.2 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 8.7% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Iowa 29th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Iowa’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 1.1% of the estimated $293 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: In FY2013, Iowa will spend $3.2 million in state funds on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Of that amount, $750,000 is earmarked for quitline services. Also in FY2013, the state will spend about $280,000 to cover tobacco cessation quitline treatment for Medicaid enrollees.

Iowa’s state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs is down three percent from the $3.3 million appropriated in FY2012 and is the fifth consecutive year in which funding has been cut.

Prior to FY2012, funding for tobacco prevention programs came from the Master Settlement Agreement, Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust, and the Healthcare Trust Fund (funded by the state’s tobacco tax). Now, however, these funds are directed to the general fund, where tobacco prevention and cessation programs must compete with other legislative priorities to secure funding.

In addition, Iowa is receiving $1.6 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $959,190 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2012 (from annual appropriations).

  • $196,083 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law for the period beginning August 1, 2012. 

  • $483,190 from the Food and Drug Administration for enforcement of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, including the provision regarding tobacco sales to minors.