Chairman Hall and Members of the House Subcommittee on Banking and Insurance , I am writing on behalf of The Health Plan, a West Virginia-based nonprofit health maintenance organization, to oppose HB 4117 - Prohibiting surprise billing of ground emergency medical services by nonparticipating providers. I’m sorry I was not able to attend the Committee Hearing on Tuesday to share my comments with you then, but I had a medical situation that kept me from the capitol. If asked, I would admittedly be one of the first to share my frustrations regarding health insurance. It can be intimidating and inarguably tedious to navigate. However, I have learned to appreciate that health insurance companies do indeed serve an important role in the healthcare delivery system, including both quality assurance and cost containment. Unfortunately, HB 4117 inhibits our ability to perform either. Cost Containment In the most basic terms, HB 4117 discourages EMS providers from joining insurance networks by rewarding them with a 400% of Medicare reimbursement rate (as a reminder, Medicare is cost-based reimbursement, so EMS is asking to receive 400% of their costs). Under normal circumstances, insurance companies and healthcare providers negotiate rates to ensure providers are reimbursed sufficiently at rates that are affordable for our members. This bill would discourage EMS agencies from network negotiations and would instead guarantee them reimbursement rates significantly higher than industry standard. State mandated reimbursement rates of this magnitude would be felt not just by health insurance companies, but also by their members, especially small businesses, in the form of rate increases. Quality Assurance Health insurers also help to protect public safety by ensuring healthcare providers are properly credentialled and following best practices. Should an EMS agency not join an insurance network, as is encouraged by this bill, our safety and oversight measures would not be in place. A patient should not have to worry about whether or not a provider has a track record of following best practices, especially when that patient is in an emergency situation. One need not look far to find similar EMS surprise billing legislation that still ensures EMS agencies are properly reimbursed but not at unmanageable rates. Our neighbors in Ohio passed a bill that would reimburse EMS at the greatest of the following:

• The median in-network rate, tied to the metropolitan statistical area, excluding any in-network cost-sharing;
• The amount that the plan would typically pay an out-of-network provider for such services, such as the usual, customary and reasonable rate, excluding any in-network cost-sharing; or
• The amount that would be paid under Medicare, excluding any in-network cost-sharing.

EMS agencies in Ohio are willing to be reimbursed at Medicare rates. Why is 400% of Medicare necessary in West Virginia? I would also like to add that the introduction of this same legislation last year has generated positive results. Before last session, insurance and EMS companies were admittedly at a standstill. EMS wouldn’t contract with insurance because of low reimbursements rates, and insurance paid low reimbursement rates because EMS providers wouldn’t sign contracts. The introduction of this legislation in 2025 did have a positive impact by helping to initiate conversations/negotiations between The Health Plan and EMS providers and I’m happy to report that we are very close to an agreement. Our first responders inarguably provide amazing public service under the most stressful of circumstances. We certainly don’t want to see any EMS agency in a situation where financial concerns inhibit their ability to assist people in need. However, we also must ensure that all providers are meeting best practices and are being reimbursed at a sustainable rate. In its current form, HB 4117 would undoubtably result in services being provided at unaffordable rates and with a lack of quality oversight. Both from a quality and financial perspective, allowing payors the opportunity to follow through with the negotiating and contracting process and arriving at an agreement with EMS providers is undoubtedly in the best interest of the patient. It is for these reasons that The Health Plan respectfully requests that you please consider opposing HB 4117, Relating to surprise billing of out-of-network ambulance services. Respectfully submitted, Megan Roskovensky Director of Government Affairs The Health Plan

This seems good i'm for it. It seems like it'd really help some folks, espically those with PCOS. PCOS is a hormonal disorder which can cause facial hair in women, along with excessive hair growth in general, and once it starts growing it usually doesnt stop even if the pcos is treated. It may thin out, but it ususally will still grow in unwanted areas.

As an occupational therapist I feel this bill is very important to people dealing with oral cancer to help them with rehabilitation to  become more independent.

Please pass HB-5071 considering the dramatic oral health needs of patients undergoing cancer treatment. Thank you- Pam Kuyk, RDH, MHE, CTTS, FADHA WVDHA ADHA BridgeValley CTC Dental Hygiene Faculty

I am write this morning in support of HB 5071 the Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act. As both a health advocate and 2-time cancer survivor I understand and value the importance of rehabilitative services. Oral health and rehabilitative care can drastically improve these complications, yet most insurance companies do not provide coverage for oral health services related to improving health outcomes. The Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act would provide needed coverage for these vital services as part of a patient’s cancer care or survivorship plan. I urge passage.

My name is Madylin Hinkle, and I proudly serve as the current President of the West Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association. I am writing in strong support of the Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act. Oral health is an essential component of overall health, yet it is too often overlooked in cancer care. Patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers frequently experience devastating oral complications, including tooth loss, bone deterioration, xerostomia, mucositis, infection, and difficulty speaking or eating. These complications are not cosmetic concerns — they directly impact a person’s ability to nourish themselves, communicate, return to work, and maintain dignity and quality of life. In my professional experience as a dental hygienist, I have cared for patients who have been severely affected by oral cancer and its treatment. I have seen firsthand the physical pain, emotional distress, and financial hardship that follow when patients are unable to access the oral rehabilitation services they need after cancer therapy. The need for prosthetic rehabilitation, restorative care, and ongoing preventive services is not optional — it is medically necessary for recovery. West Virginia ranks among the highest in the nation for new cancer cases, including oral and pharyngeal cancers. The complications of these cancers can severely inhibit a person’s ability to breathe, eat, and speak, often leading to depression, job loss, and long-term disability. Studies show that 89% of cancer patients experience interruptions in employment during treatment, and labor market earnings drop by 40% within the first two years of diagnosis. Individuals with oral cancers pay seven times more in out-of-pocket costs than patients with other types of cancers. For many West Virginians, including Medicaid patients, essential services such as dental extractions, prostheses, rehabilitation, tobacco cessation counseling, and nutritional support are often not covered — delaying treatment and increasing complications. The Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act would ensure that West Virginians undergoing cancer treatment have access to the comprehensive oral health and rehabilitation services required to restore function and improve quality of life. By recognizing oral rehabilitation as an essential part of cancer recovery, this legislation would remove barriers to care, reduce long-term complications, protect families from devastating financial burden, and strengthen our state’s workforce and economy. West Virginia has one of the highest cancer burdens in the nation. Our citizens deserve comprehensive, compassionate care that addresses the full impact of this disease — including its effects on the mouth and oral structures. I urge you to support the Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act and stand with the patients in our state who deserve the opportunity to heal fully and live with dignity after cancer treatment.

I am a practicing dentist in West Virginia and I am writing in support of HB 5071, the Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act. In clinical practice, we routinely see patients whose cancer diagnosis and treatment directly affect their oral health. Dental infections, mucositis, xerostomia, osteoradionecrosis risk, and treatment-related tooth loss are not elective dental issues — they are medically necessary conditions that can determine whether a patient can safely begin, continue, or recover from cancer therapy. When patients cannot obtain timely oral care because insurance categorizes these services as “dental” rather than medical, the consequences are significant. Delays in extractions prior to radiation, untreated infections during chemotherapy, and lack of access to rehabilitative care after cancer treatment can result in pain, systemic complications, interruption of oncology care, and higher long-term healthcare costs. HB 5071 recognizes the medical necessity of oral care tied to cancer treatment and helps remove an administrative barrier that currently prevents patients from receiving appropriate care at the right time. Ensuring coverage for these services supports better health outcomes, improves coordination between medical and dental providers, and ultimately protects vulnerable patients during one of the most serious periods of their lives. As a clinician serving West Virginia patients, I believe this legislation is a meaningful step toward improving comprehensive cancer care in our state. Thank you for your consideration.

Did you ever think that insurance companies would not provide coverage for oral health services for patients undergoing cancer care or rehabilitation as part of their survivorship plan?  Sadly, that is a reality for many West Virginians that are battling or have survived head and neck cancer and cannot find coverage to rebuild their oral needs. HB5071 is championing a solution to this problem and will help restore patient dignity, improve economic impacts, and save lives.  89% of cancer patients' employment has been interrupted by treatment.  Interruptions and loss of employment directly impact the individual's cashflow and the State's tax revenue and workforce. Please answer this call to action and support HB 5071 to reduce the burdens of cancer treatment and provide adequate oral health coverage for West Virginians who face these barriers.  Help them get back to living and working proudly in our State!

I am a Board-Certified Prosthodontist who practices and teaches at WVU in Morgantown, WV.  I am in extreme support of this Bill as these patients deserve to have the opportunity to live at an equitable level compared to their pre-cancer quality of life.  Life after oral cancer will never be the same for them, but these patients currently are dental cripples due to the financial burden of the required treatment for rehabilitation. Patients who cannot afford required dental extractions prior to radiation therapy are at high risk for osteoradionecrosis later. The oral flora completely changes during chemotherapy and radiation, and these patients are also at higher risk for overgrowth of both candida albicans and streptococcus mutans which are responsible for causing thrush, angular cheilitis and dental caries/decay respectively. Without support for dental treatment and rehabilitation the quality of life for these patients evaporates.

I work with an Adult dental program for the underinsured. We owe it our veterans and elderly population to provide oral health care. Especially in the face of cancer. Please support this bill.

It is imperative that we maintain and increase funding for Tobacco Cessation. Helping people to quit smoking improves their life drastically. WV has the highest smoking rate in the nation and is the number one cause of WV being the most unhealthy state.

Dear West Virginia Legislator, As you consider passage of HB 5108, we urge you to support this critical legislation that would increase funding for tobacco prevention and access to cessation programs in West Virginia. West Virginia’s tobacco prevention funding falls woefully short of the $27.4 million recommended annually by the CDC to combat the influence of the tobacco influence. Since the inception of the Tobacco Settlement Fund (Rainy Day B Fund), funding has eroded down to a mere $306,210 allocated to support these critical services. We know adequate funding for tobacco prevention programs could make a difference. In the midst of a youth e-cigarette epidemic, funding for these programs are as critical as ever. Currently in West Virginia: High school students who smoke             6.7% (5,800) High school students who use e-cigarettes           27.0% Male high school students who smoke cigars (female use much lower)  7.3% Kids (under 18) who try cigarettes for the first time each year         3,300 Adults in West Virginia who smoke             20.8% (295,600) Investment in tobacco prevention by the WV Legislature is urgently required to reverse the dangerous trend in youth vaping and protect the next generation of West Virginians youth from nicotine addiction.  Evidence-based, tobacco use preventions efforts that have been shown to reduce youth initiation and tobacco use rates, as well as tobacco-related diseases and deaths Tobacco use is responsible for $1 billion annually in direct health care costs in West Virginia, including $289 million in Medicaid costs. Investing in tobacco cessation and prevention programs will reduce the toll of tobacco on West Virginians both in chronic diseases and death and health care spending. By increasing funding for tobacco prevention services, legislators can prevent thousands of WV kids falling victim to nicotine addiction and becoming lifelong customers of the tobacco industry. Supporting this legislation that would increase funding will expand access to nicotine cessation services in communities across West Virginia. Research shows the more states spend on tobacco prevention programs, the greater the impact in reductions in youth initiation and tobacco use. We urge put the future of West Virginians youth first and support this legislation that would  increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation so we can reduce the toll of tobacco use in West Virginia. Sincerely, Coalition for Tobacco-Free West Virginia  

Please pass HB5108. It will provide funds for smoking cessation.

Written Testimony in Support of House Bill 5108 Submitted by the American Lung Association Chairman Hall and Members of the Banking and Insurance Committee: On behalf of the American Lung Association, thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony in strong support of House Bill 5108 (Rohrbach). HB 5108 is a responsible and powerful investment in the health of all West Virginians by dedicating money to helping people quit tobacco while preventing the next generation from becoming addicted. West Virginia’s Tobacco Landscape West Virginia continues to face one of the most serious tobacco burdens in the country. According to the 2026 American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control report for West Virginia, the state continuously receives failing grades in key tobacco control categories.

• Adult tobacco use rates remain among the highest in the nation (32.9%).
• High school tobacco use, including e-cigarette use, continues to threaten youth health (28.5%).
• According to the 2025 American Lung Asociation’s State of Lung Cancer report, the rate of new lung cancer cases in West Virginia is 76.3 and significantly higher than the national rate of 52.8.

Most people who smoke or vape begin before age 18. Nicotine is highly addictive and quitting without support is difficult. Many adults want to quit, but too few have access to comprehensive cessation support. HB 5108 addresses this gap by providing the tobacco cessation and control services that West Virginians need. Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account HB 5108 creates a Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account in the State Treasury to be administered by the Director of the Bureau for Public Health.

• A $5 million annual transfer from interest and other returns earned on the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund – Part B (“Rainy Day B” fund) into the new account. In 2025, West Virginia collected $184,500,000 in tobacco related revenue from excise taxes and payments from the tobacco master settlement agreement; $5 million is a modest investment to help current users quit and prevent our kids from becoming addicted. The fund paves the way for allowing our current middle- and high-school students to become the first nicotine free generation. *The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) best practices recommend that West Virginia spend $27.4 million annually.
• Ensure that these funds are dedicated solely to tobacco prevention and cessation.
• Allow funds to remain available year to year if not fully expended, providing stability and long-term planning capacity.

This structure creates a dedicated, sustainable funding stream. That stability is critical for effective public health programming. With this investment, West Virginia can strengthen and expand proven interventions, including quitline services, community-based programs and strengthen program evaluation. Expanding Quitline Services would allow West Virginia to increase its capacity to serve more callers and provide nicotine replacement therapy and counseling support. The funding would also generate enhanced outreach, so more residents know that help is available. Expanding Community-Based Programs would allow West Virginia to support local prevention coalitions and target high-risk and rural communities. The American Lung Association has successfully worked with West Virginia youth to address addiction before it begins. The program, called Raze, was eliminated due to Federal cuts to tobacco prevention and control. Strengthening Program Evaluation would help West Virginia better measure outcomes and ensure it is getting the best return on investment. This will allow for identifying best practices and ensuring accountability and continuous improvement. Why This Matters West Virginia bears a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related disease and healthcare costs. According to the State of Tobacco Control report, West Virginians spend over $1 billion a year on healthcare costs due to tobacco use. This includes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, and others. These preventable illnesses are significant Medicaid expenditures for the state. HB 5108 is more than funding. It protects the next generation and gives tobacco users the tools they need to quit. This bill invests in all West Virginian’s health. Conclusion House Bill 5108 creates a dedicated fund for tobacco prevention and programs to help you quit. It ensures that $5 million annually goes toward saving lives by providing sustainable support for cessation efforts. HB 5108 also protects West Virginia’s youth from lifelong addiction and assists adults who want to quit, succeed. West Virginians are struggling with addiction and chronic disease. HB 5108 represents a fiscally responsible approach that will improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The American Lung Association strongly encourages the Committee to support HB 5108 and advance this important investment in the health of West Virginians. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Hensil Director of Advocacy American Lung Association Elizabeth.Hensil@lung.org

As a lifelong West Virginian and a public health professional working closely with families across our communities, I strongly urge continued and expanded investment in tobacco control in West Virginia. Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death in our state. It contributes directly to heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory illness, and complications that strain our healthcare system and reduce quality of life for thousands of West Virginians. Beyond the human cost, tobacco use places a significant financial burden on our state through increased medical expenditures, lost productivity, and preventable disability. Investing in tobacco control is not simply a health initiative — it is an economic and community development strategy. Evidence-based prevention programs, cessation support, youth education, and public awareness campaigns reduce long-term healthcare costs, strengthen workforce participation, and improve overall community well-being. Every dollar invested in prevention saves multiple dollars in treatment and lost productivity down the road. Our youth are especially vulnerable. Without sustained prevention efforts, new generations will continue to face addiction through cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and emerging nicotine products. Strong tobacco control policies and education programs help young people make healthier choices and protect them from lifelong dependence and disease. Tobacco control also advances health equity. Rural communities, low-income families, and populations facing limited access to care are disproportionately affected by tobacco-related illness. Strategic investment ensures these communities receive the education, resources, and cessation support they need to live healthier lives. West Virginia has always been a state that values hard work, resilience, and caring for one another. Investing in tobacco control reflects those values. It protects our children, supports our workforce, reduces preventable suffering, and strengthens the future of our communities. For the health of our people and the prosperity of our state, continued investment in tobacco control is not optional — it is essential. Dr. Donald Reed, DrPH

Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment on House Bill 5108, which establishes the Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account and includes a $5 million investment for the Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention.  These funds will support programs and resources designed to prevent youth initiation and addiction to tobacco products, while also providing adults who want to quit with the tools, guidance, and support needed for long-term success.  This funding is critical as tobacco use continues to take a terrible toll on West Virginia residents. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer.  Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in West Virginia and the state has the highest proportion of smoking-attributable cancer deaths in the nation at 37.8%. This is a preventable tragedy.   West Virginia can address this serious public health problem by increasing its commitment to tobacco prevention and cessation.  Comprehensive, well-funded state tobacco prevention and cessation programs are proven to reduce smoking, saving both lives and money. Currently, West Virginia ranks 50th in state spending on tobacco prevention. At the same time, 20.8% of adults,  6.7% of high school students and more than one-quarter of high schoolers use e-cigarettes.   Investing in tobacco prevention and cessation is a smart investment because treating tobacco-caused disease is expensive. The combined state and federal tax burden from smoking-related government expenditures is $1,702 per resident, and annual health care costs directly caused by smoking in West Virginia are estimated at $1.17 billion. Preventing youth from starting tobacco use, and helping adults to quit, can reduce health care spending by reducing the need for hospitalizations and other medical services related to treating tobacco-caused disease. It can also improve productivity by reducing the number of people unable to work and the number of missed workdays due to tobacco-related illness and by increasing employee productivity while at work.  The funding allocated by HB 5108 would play a critical role in funding tobacco cessation in West Virginia, helping to prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness. This funding would also keep young people from starting to smoke, support adults in quitting, reduce health disparities, and counter the tobacco industry’s ongoing marketing, which is estimated to be $106.2 million annually in West Virginia alone.   The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids strongly supports House Bill 5108 and the investment it makes in protecting the health of West Virginians. By funding comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation efforts, this legislation will help reduce tobacco use, save lives, and lower long-term health care costs. We urge you to support HB 5108 and ensure that West Virginia has the resources needed to prevent addiction, support cessation, and build a healthier future for all residents. 

Reference HB 5108 Prevention, dollar for dollar is worth more than treatment. Both are important. I present a modified "Tar Wars" class to 4th and 5th grades, seven classes this year. Over the years I have presented in 10 counties. This is a program formerly sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians and still the WV chapter. THIS YEAR, ALL CLASSES BUT ONE, THE KIDS INDICATED OVER 50% LIVED IN A HOME WHEERE SOMEONE SMOKED OR VAPED! I encourage greater support. like HB 5108, to help in the effort to train our kids in abstinence. Thank you for what you do in the legislature.

From watching my peers in high school struggle to quit vaping to taking the history of a patient with a COPD exacerbation who still smoked cigarettes in the emergency department, I have seen firsthand how deeply tobacco addiction harms individuals in my community. This burden extends across West Virginia, as 27% of high school students use e-cigarettes and 20.8% of adults smoke. West Virginia cannot afford to underfund prevention and cessation efforts. Our legislators and communities must work together to help people quit and to protect young people from ever starting. With the RAZE youth tobacco prevention program ending in 2025 because of funding losses, and with continued pressure on quitline funding, young people and adults have fewer supports when they need them most. That is why HB5108 is a critical step forward. It funds the prevention and cessation initiatives our state urgently needs. Education, quitlines, and youth cessation programs have all been limited, but this bill gives West Virginia the opportunity to restore and strengthen these resources.    

Mr. Chairman and Committee Members: Thank you for your leadership in considering House Bill 5108: To fund the Tobacco Use Cessation Initiative. The American Heart Association supports the establishment of a dedicated Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account and the commitment to solutions that help residents quit, reduce long-term health care costs, and improve the health and well-being of families across our state. Tobacco use claims more than 4,300 West Virginia lives each year and costs our state over $1 billion annually in direct health care expenses.¹ West Virginia continues to face some of the highest tobacco use rates in the nation, with approximately 20.8% of adults smoking and nearly 27% of high school students using e-cigarettes.¹ We appreciate your continued dedication to protecting the health of West Virginians. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, West Virginia State Report (2025), citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and related federal data. Available at: https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/us/statereport/west-virginia Respectfully Submitted, Emily Hanna, MPAP WV Government Relations Director American Heart Association emily.hanna@heart.org

ACS CAN Supports HB 5108 The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the nonprofit, non-partisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, advocates for public policies to end cancer as we know it, for everyone, including policies targeted at improving the health of our state by reducing tobacco use. ACS CAN supports HB 5108, which would increase funding for tobacco control programs by $5 million annually by creating a “Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account” in the State Treasury to be administered by the Director of the Bureau for Public Health” and investing $5 million from the interest and other returns earned on the moneys in the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund – Part B, also known as the “Rainy Day B” fund, into the account annually. The Problem: Tobacco Use and the Toll of Tobacco in West Virginia Tobacco is an addictive and deadly product and tobacco use remains the nation’s number one cause of preventable death.  Smoking damages nearly every organ in the body and increases the risk for many types of cancer, heart attack, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other diseases.[i]  Smoking is the single largest contributing risk factor to cancer in the United States, increasing the risk of at least 12 cancers.[ii]  In fact, smoking is responsible for an estimated 37.8%  of cancer deaths in West Virginia.[iii]  If you add the deaths from all diseases attributable to smoking, the number of annual deaths climbs to 4,300 lives lost to smoking each year in West Virginia.  We can and we must do better. The Problem: The Economic Toll of Tobacco on West Virginia It should be noted that the damage tobacco inflicts upon our state is not limited to death and disease.  Smoking is estimated to cost West Virginia $1.17 billion in direct health care costs, including $298.1 million in Medicaid costs annually.[iv] These amounts do not include health costs caused by exposure to secondhand smoke, smoking-caused fires, smokeless tobacco use, or cigar and pipe smoking.  Additionally, smoking costs the state $2.4 billion in productivity costs annually. Tobacco use also imposes additional costs such as workplace productivity losses and damage to property. These costs far outpace the $184.5 million in annual tobacco revenue the state receives from tobacco settlement payments and tobacco taxes.   On average West Virginia residents pay $1,702 per household in state and federal taxes from smoking-caused government expenditures, whether they smoke or not. It is vital that fact-based programs are in place to reduce tobacco use and reduce taxpayer-funded health care costs.  Overall, for every $1 spent on comprehensive tobacco control programs, states receive up to $55 in savings from averted tobacco-related health care costs.[v] Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Programs in West Virginia are Vital to Protect Youth Due to skyrocketing rates of youth tobacco use in recent years, the decades of progress that has been made in reducing tobacco use rates in youth is now in jeopardy.  Here in West Virginia 28.5% of high school students use tobacco products.[vi] Action is needed to reverse these trends. A well-funded, fact-based tobacco control program is needed to counteract the $106.2 million per year that tobacco companies are spending to market their deadly and addictive products in West Virginia.[vii]    As Big Tobacco has been working hard to addict future generations with e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, the need for funding for tobacco prevention programs has never been greater. It’s imperative that programs are funded to protect the next generation from a lifetime of addiction.    We Know What Works to Reduce Tobacco Use In West Virginia the comprehensive tobacco control program is currently funded at $306,210[viii] which is 1.1% of what is recommended for an effective program in West Virginia based on state-specific factors.[ix]  ACS CAN calls on you to support HB 5018 to increase funding by $5 million as a first step towards funding a successful program. To reduce the devastating health impact of cancer and other tobacco-related disease, we need to invest in programs that prevent kids from starting to use tobacco and help others who are already addicted to quit.  Despite much progress, the current rates of tobacco use remain unacceptable, and more than two-thirds (68%) of people who currently smoke indicate they would still like to quit.[x]  Simply stated, these are people who need our help, and they would benefit from this legislation.  Their lives are depending on it. The tobacco control program funding request for which we ask your support here today is backed by extensive science, evidence, and success stories from other states. Historically, states that have continually invested in their comprehensive tobacco control programs have greater savings. These states have experienced reduced cigarette sales, declining smoking rates among youth and young adults, and smoking-attributable health care expenditure savings. Investing in comprehensive tobacco control programs is proven to prevent initiation among youth and young adults, promote quitting among adults and youth, eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, and identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities. With funding increased by $5 million for tobacco prevention and cessation, West Virginia will be able to further invest in interventions to prevent kids from starting to use tobacco and help those already addicted to quit by expanding quitline services, expanding community-based programs throughout the state, and expanding evaluation of the program. If we are serious about fighting the death and disease caused by tobacco, adopting HB 5108 is a critical step.  Thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the state tobacco control programs, and we urge your support for increasing funding of our tobacco control program by $5 million annually to reduce taxpayer costs, protect kids, and save lives.   [i] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking.  Updated October 29, 2021.  https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/ [ii] American Cancer Society.  Cancer Facts and Figures 2026.  Atlanta, Georgia. 2026. [iii] American Cancer Society Analysis.  2024. [iv] Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  The Toll of Tobacco in West Virginia.  Updated December 15, 2025. [v] Office on Smoking and Health at a Glance, retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/tobacco-use.htm. [vi]  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. [vii] Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  The Toll of Tobacco in West Virginia.  Updated December 15, 2025. [viii] Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Assocation, Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, and Truth Initiative.  Broken Promises to our Children.  January 2026. [ix] CDC, 2014. [x] U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Quitting smoking among adults – United States 2000-2015.  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, January 6, 2017: 65(52); 1457–1464.

Please pass HB 5108. Funding is vital to handle the tobacco and vaping problem in West Virginia. We rank 50 among the states when it comes to usage. We earn an F. For the sake of the health of our fellow West Virginians please support prevention and cessation. Thank you.