The American Heart Association is making preparations for a very busy legislative session in West Virginia. Legislation to provide for state recognition of primary stroke centers and promoting an increase in the tobacco excise tax are top AHA priorities for the 2011 Regular Session, which begins January 13th.

The legislation to recognize primary stroke centers in West Virginia will be similar to the bill introduced last year, and will rely on hospitals obtaining certification from a nationally recognized program. State recognition of primary stroke centers is an important step in improving the overall stroke system of care in West Virginia.

Tobacco tax legislation will be proposed to increase West Virginia’s current tax of 55-cents per pack of cigarettes, which is 44th in the nation, by $1.00 per pack. Other tobacco products will also be slated for increases in the bill, although they are taxed at a percentage of the wholesale price. It is widely known that increases in the price of tobacco products consistently results in fewer tobacco users and more lives saved. Increasing West Virginia’s tobacco tax by this amount would result in saving 9,500 West Virginians from premature death from tobacco-related illnesses!

To help support these initiatives, the American Heart Association’s 2011 West Virginia Advocacy Day will be held on March 3rd in conjunction with Tobacco-Free Day at the Legislature. Register to join us on March 3rd!