Gov. Kim Reynolds is proposing hiking Iowa’s tax on cigarettes and tobacco as public health officials map which of Iowa’s 99 counties have the most cancer cases and study root causes for Iowa’s sky-high cancer rates.
State officials on Thursday, Feb. 5 unveiled preliminary findings from a study that seeks to understand why Iowa has the second highest rate of new cancers in the nation. The study is a partnership between the University of Iowa College of Public Health and Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Reynolds in 2025 approved allocating $1 million toward the study, which state officials believe is the most comprehensive on cancer in the state and the only one of its kind in the country. The governor called the findings “incredibly important” in Iowa’s efforts to curb cancer rates.
The first phase of the study explored epidemic factors and behavioral factors such as binge drinking, smoking and obesity to answer why Iowa’s cancer rates are higher than the national average.
“The good news is that each of us can change our behaviors to reduce our risk,” Reynolds said. “Still, I understand why so many Iowans want to find that one cause of cancer. When someone you love gets sick, it’s natural to want to put all of your energy and resources into one thing that might stop it from happening again.
“And I wish the answer was that simple as well, but know that the research will continue to look at all of the evidence, including environmental factors, and will act accordingly based on what the research finds.”
Reynolds said she will introduce a bill that would raise existing taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products and institute a new tax on consumable hemp and vape products to encourage behaviors that reduce cancer risk. It would:
She announced in her Jan. 13 Condition of the State address that she will propose eliminating certain dyes and additives from school lunches and requiring physicians to complete a nutrition course.
Reynolds also is asking lawmakers to codify a requirement that Iowa HHS apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Summer EBT waivers in favor of state initiatives to provide low-income Iowans with nutritious foods.
“Our numbers, they’re not acceptable,” Reynolds said. “We have to be better. We’ve got to understand that.”
What did the first phase focus on?
The study focuses on the most common cancers compared with trends nationally and in neighboring states
Initial findings showed:
Public health officials said cancer is a complex disease without one clear cause.
“Cancer is a devastating diagnosis that is lifechanging and this is what is driving our work to better understand Iowa’s cancer rates,” University of Iowa College of Public Health Dean Edith Parker said.
Initial findings are available at hhs.iowa.gov/health-prevention/cancer.
Which counties are seeing higher cancer rates?
The preliminary findings revealed Iowa counties that indicate the biggest opportunities to consider other risk factors, including genetic, environmental and provider screening patterns.
Thirteen of Iowa’s 99 counties had a higher cancer incidence rate than expected for Iowans over age 20.
Officials said these counties’ higher rates cannot sufficiently be explained by the demographic characteristics and behavioral risk factors.
What’s next?
The study’s first phase focused on breast and prostate cancers and will examine lung, melanoma, colorectal and HPV-related cancers by July 2026, also exploring genetic and environmental factors.
A full report with results and recommendations will be released after that point.
Officials will use the study’s findings to develop recommendations for evidence-based prevention programs.
In the meantime, Iowa expects to allocate up to $183 million over five years toward cancer treatment and prevention as part of funding received through the Rural Health Transformation Program. Those dollars come from Republicans’ tax and spending law dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” and are intended to offset some of the cuts to federal Medicaid spending.
Of the $209 million received this year in federal grant funding, Iowa is devoting $50 million to cancer screening, prevention and treatment. The state will use the grant to reshape rural health care by creating cancer-specific hub sites that help boost access to cancer treatment and prevention.
University of Iowa Health Care was among the first to receive a slice of those funds to lead development of a cancer “hub-and-spoke” model of health care, Iowa HHS Director Larry Johnson announced. That model will make everything from advanced specialty care to diagnostics, chemotherapy and follow-up care accessible across rural region regions.
“This is important because cancer is not just a single appointment,” State Medical Director Robert Cruz said. “It’s a continuum. It’s consultations, imaging, lab work, treatment, follow-up and survivorship care, reducing that unnecessary travel and improving coordination which reduces burden for patients and families while maintaining their quality and safety.”
Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds calls for hiking tobacco tax as Iowa studies cancer rates
Reporting by Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
