LANSING – State programs to combat diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease would be on the chopping block under a budget-cutting agreement between the governor and Department of Community Health.

In all, 15 programs will be eliminated if the Legislature approves the proposed cuts in the Healthy Michigan Fund.

The Alzheimer’s Information Network, diabetes outreach and Parkinson’s disease programs would lose all their state funding in 2007-08 under the plan.

Other programs supported by the Healthy Michigan Fund would see reductions in state aid.

Steve Angelotti, a Senate Fiscal Agency analyst, said a cancer program reduction of almost $1.6 million could impede local prevention efforts as well as cut the staff needed to run the programs.

“The proposed cut in smoking prevention is almost $1.7 million, which will have a significant impact, as most of that money goes to local health departments for anti-smoking efforts in communities,” Angelotti said.

Sue Frey, a senior analyst for the House Fiscal Agency, said a possible modest increase in federal funding for the diabetes program might help offset the loss of state money.

The Healthy Michigan Fund operates with tobacco taxes and the state’s share of a national settlement with the tobacco industry.

This year, the fund received $43.5 million. The governor’s recommendation for next year would cut funding by $1.7 million.

The proposed savings in the Healthy Michigan Fund would be redirected to the Medicaid program to help combat the budget deficit.

Kimberly Singh, a health officer for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department in Stanton, said, “In general, I believe the cuts will be a disservice to the health of Michigan residents.”

Singh said it is not the first time the fund has been the target of severe budget cuts.

“The fund is only a fraction of what it used to be five to 10 years ago. What’s left is the barebones of an essential program,” she said.

For example she said:

• In Montcalm County, the fund provided smoking cessation programs that helped 12,000 residents quit in 2006.
• The fund also provided Montcalm County with cancer prevention programs that helped drop the rates of terminal cancer drastically over the past 10 years from 225 to 158.

“We are going to advocate for another look at the budget. The Healthy Michigan Fund is the wrong place to cut.” Singh said.

Angelotti said, “Obviously, this is just the beginning of the budget process. The bill will have to go through the House and Senate. It is clear that the Healthy Michigan Fund cuts are going to get a lot of attention.”