A major focus for CAC, AARP, United Senior Action and other members of the Indiana Home Care Task Force during the 2000 General Assembly concerned the state’s share of the federal tobacco settlement. Indiana is to receive an estimated $4 billion over the next quarter century from a nationwide pool of tobacco settlement dollars.

Task Force organizations supported the following use of tobacco monies:

• One hundred percent of the settlement should be spent on health care and health-related programs

• Fifty percent of the settlement should go to services for seniors and citizens with disabilities, who represent populations that have been disproportionately affected by tobacco related disease

• This sum should include funding for home care and other long term care alternatives.

• This sum should also include funds to assist seniors with prescription drug costs.

This campaign resulted in seniors securing $20 million per year in prescription drug assistance. Also, Indiana’s tobacco monies will only be used for health care and health-related programs. However, the General Assembly did not support using tobacco monies to provide more funding for home care or long term care alternatives.

Despite this last disappointing result, CAC is extremely pleased with the cooperation of State Rep. Charlie Brown (D-Gary) and State Sen. Larry Borst (R-Indpls.) in their efforts to effect pro-consumer changes in the tobacco legislation, and for Governor Frank O’Bannon’s support for prescription drug services for seniors.

Health Care Issues Index

| CAC Home Page | Table of Contents | Issues Index |
| Contact CAC | Join CAC | CAC Newsletter | Resource Links |