Building a Healthy Future for Maine

Ten years ago today Maine lawmakers created the Fund for a Healthy Maine (FHM) from Maine’s share of the national tobacco settlement. In creating the FHM, Maine did what few other states were willing to do: commit to using these new resources as they were originally intended – to prevent disease and promote good health.

Since that time, FHM programs have been wildly successful – youth smoking rates have dropped by 64%, alcohol use among junior high and high school students has steadily fallen, teen pregnancy rates have been reduced by 44%, and many more children are receiving immunizations, dental care, and school-based health care because of the FHM. Edward Miller, Executive Director of the American Lung Association of Maine, kicked off the celebration and highlighted why the FHM is so important. Miller stated, “It’s hard to find a better deal than one that pays you $9 for every $1 you invest. But that’s exactly what the Fund for a Healthy Maine delivers. For every dollar invested in prevention efforts, we save $9 in health costs. That’s a healthy deal for a healthy Maine.”

Past and current lawmakers joined public health advocates in celebrating ten years of the FHM and the tremendous improvements in health it has brought to Maine people. In addition to the requisite birthday cake, the celebration included awards to those who helped create and protect the FHM. Kevin O’Flaherty, Regional Advocacy Director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, offered his congratulations for Maine’s longtime leadership in helping smokers quit and keeping kids from starting. O’Flaherty stated, “Maine is a small state with a big heart. You’ve taken on the tobacco industry and you’re helping kids and adults make healthy choices for healthy lifestyles. You’re a national model for success. Congratulations and keep up the fight that’s saving lives and lowering health costs.”

Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, told the story of ‘Timmy’,an average Maine child who is touched by the Fund for a Healthy Maine from birth through his adults years. Mills stated, “The Fund for a Healthy Maine has improved lives and reduced health costs for every resident of Maine. Maine people and Maine’s economy are healthier because of the Fund for a Healthy Maine.”

It was a time to celebrate and a time to look to the future, as Maine and the nation face difficult financial times and a health care system in crisis. Miller added, “We’ll never fix our economy without overhauling our health care system. And we’ll never fix our health care system without reducing the amount we spend on preventable disease. The Fund is about building a healthy future for Maine. We get this money because Maine people got sick and died from tobacco use. It’s our responsibility to spend it making sure the generations of today and tomorrow get healthy and see their families and businesses thrive.”