Where the tobacco funds are

January 26, 2008 at 10:42PM

WHERE THE TOBACCO FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota received $469 million in the settlement. This is the company's plan for spending it:

$241 million for Prevention Minnesota, a program to reduce smoking, increase physical activity and promote healthy eating.

$71 million goes back to plan members.

$70 million goes to reduce the deficit of the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, which provides coverage to Minnesotans who have been turned down by private plans.

$30 million for community clinics.

ClearWay Minnesota was created by the settlement with a $202 million endowment and a 25-year lifespan. So far, it has spent the money this way:

$31.6 million for education and outreach, including a statewide advertising campaign on ClearWay's cessation program and the dangers of secondhand smoke.

$21.4 million has been spent on individual cessation efforts and related research.

$7.8 million was spent on policy research and environmental approaches to curbing smoking, including community grants in support of smoking bans.

$4.8 million to develop tobacco education programs in minority communities, where smoking prevalence often is greater than in the general population.

$4.6 million was spent on population surveys including the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey to track smoking prevalence and habits.

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