Health Care Notes: State receives $146.1M more in tobacco settlement

Tennessee has received a payment of $146.1 million more from major tobacco companies as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. The money comes from a lawsuit targeting major tobacco companies for violation of consumer protection laws and deceptive marketing practices that cause increased health care costs. 

The state has now received a collective $3.9 billion since 1998, according to a Tuesday announcement from Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. Skrmetti and his staff are responsible for regulating tobacco companies that do business in Tennessee, and the settlement agreement also includes restrictions against youth marketing, sales of tobacco merchandise and tobacco-sponsored entertainment. The yearly payments are applied to offset costs of health care for smoking-related illnesses, according to a press release.