Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo Illustration

Three Fs and a D. Ouch.

That’s what the American Lung Association gave Kansas for its tobacco control policies and regulations.

An association report, “State of Tobacco Control,” which was released early today, Tuesday gave the state failing grades for:

• Prevention spending. The state spends only $2.3 million — or 7 percent — of the $170 million it collects every year from tobacco settlement and tax money. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends spending $32 million.

• Smoking indoors. There are no statewide regulations regarding private work sites, home-based child care centers, bars and casinos. The Kansas Clean Indoor Act didn’t pass the 2009 Legislature, but will be debated this session.

• Coverage for cessation programs for Medicaid recipients and state employees. For Medicaid recipients, there are limits on the duration of coverage, an annual limit on quit attempts, and co-payments are required. No counseling is offered. It also noted private insurance companies are not required to offer coverage.

• Kansas received a D for its cigarette tax of 79 cents per pack. The national average is $1.34. Only 16 states have a lower rate. Rates range from $3.46 in Rhode Island to 7 cents in South Carolina.

Paul Billings, American Lung Association’s vice president of policy and advocacy, said taxes are a proven way to reduce the number of smokers. And he said more tax dollars should be spent on prevention.

“When states fail to make strategic and effective investments in tobacco prevention and control, they miss the chance to save lives and save millions of dollars in health care costs,” Billings said.

Here’s some Kansas facts provided by the association:

• Economic costs due to smoking — $1.7 billion annually.

• Adult smoking rate –18 percent.

• High school smoking rate — 20 percent.

• Number of tobacco-related deaths — 3,800 annually.