Supporters of the Fund for Healthy Maine celebrated some victories this budget season after the appropriations committee restored most of the funding that was proposed to be cut from the governor’s budget.

About $2.6 million was cut from the request from various programs the fund supports, down from $17 million Gov. Paul LePage proposed to remove.

Also, wording that would have allowed money to be removed from the fund to fill holes in the budget was removed.

We’re pleased legislators protected the Fund for Healthy Maine this session and followed the wishes of Mainers to keep this revenue stream funding programs that will keep Maine’s children and families healthy and help people quit smoking.

When budget talks continue in the future, legislators need to continue to keep in mind that the funds was created to pay for programs that support and encourage healthy lifestyles for Mainers.

In 1999, the legislature created the fund to manage annual tobacco settlement payments from a national lawsuit against tobacco companies. In creating the fund, the legislature also established eight categories of health programs the money could support, including smoking cessation and prevention, prenatal and child care, health care, prescription drug assistance for the elderly, dental care for low-income families, and substance abuse treatment and prevention.

The programs that Maine has created are unlike those in any other state and they keep the cost of health care down by stopping young people from smoking, helping smokers quit, and teaching families about proper nutrition, health and education.

In York County, more than 160 families who benefit from home visits by staff from Maine Families York County will continue to receive those important visits. These home visits help expectant parents all the way until their children enter school. They show parents how to properly care for their children and can also help identify and treat children who may have learning or developmental disabilities.

Staffers say these services can help children develop so that when they reach school age, they are ready to participate at the appropriate level in kindergarten.

In addition to programs like Maine Families York County, the Fund for Healthy Maine supports important smoking cessation and prevention programs that have helped lower the rate of smoking in Maine.

According to figures from the Maine Public Health Association, youth smoking dropped from 40 percent in 1996 to 18 percent more recently. But in the last few years, the state has seen a slight increase in youth smoking, which is another reason why this fund and its programs are so important.

Studies have shown for every dollar invested in preventative care, $7.50 is saved in future health care costs.

The Fund for a Healthy Maine is intended to help residents maintain healthy lifestyles and, if protected and invested properly, it will save Maine millions of dollars in the future.