Challenge:
The Kentucky Legislature passed legislation providing a comprehensive smoking cessation program for the thousands of smokers
on Kentucky Medicaid. Unfortunately, no funding was attached. Working with the American Heart Association,
American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, BKPA’s Steve Bryant was tasked with
coordinating a comprehensive public affairs campaign to increase awareness and advocate for funding of this unfunded promise
to Kentucky’s poorest citizens.
Solution:
The primary objective of the campaign was creating a positive atmosphere of support for funding the critical smoking
cessation program. Through media outreach, grasstops and grassroots advocacy, and coalition building to support
lobbying efforts in Frankfort, the campaign put the issue at the forefront of health policy in Kentucky. After helping
establish a coalition of more than 30 advocates from Kentucky’s healthcare and business community, Bryant led a multi-year
campaign that earned more than 100 unique media stories in Kentucky’s most prominent media markets, including several front
page articles on the Louisville Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader, TV and radio coverage in each
of the state’s media markets, and eleven supportive newspaper editorials in the state’s top print publications.
Impact:
The Medicaid smoking cessation program became a critical budget issue during the 2010 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly
and was mentioned as a priority in Governor Steve Beshear’s 2010 State of the Commonwealth address. The multi-year
campaign was ultimately successful as funding for the program to help the thousands of smokers on Kentucky Medicaid was
included in the state’s budget.
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