COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho is mostly a failure when it comes to preventing tobacco-caused disease and death, a recent American Lung Association study found.

Improvements were made across the state in some areas, but lagged in others, according to the ALA's 2012 Tobacco Control 2012 report, released this week.

Of the four categories the annual report grades, the state received an F grade in tobacco prevention and control spending, cigarette tax amount and cessation insurance coverage.

Its lone passing mark, smokefree air, notched the state a B.

"Failure isn't an option," ALA President and CEO Renee Klein stated in a press release about improving rankings across the nation. "Because our end goal is removing tobacco's chokehold on America's health, and that's a life-and-death matter."

The categories on the report are supposed to indicate progress on key tobacco control policies.

Youth and adult smoking rates have declined slowly over the past decade overall, although at inconsistent levels, the report stated.

The adult smoking rate in Idaho is 15.7 percent. It causes an estimated 1,509 deaths in Idaho annually and costs the state's economy $685,273 in health care costs and lost productivity, it stated.

The report said that Idaho made strides in 2011 by discussing the possibility of a raised cigarette tax rate, though a proposed increase never became a bill.

The 57 cents tax rate per pack earned Idaho its failing mark.

But some lawmakers said raising the tax rate isn't likely to happen this year, either.

Raising tax rates can act as a deterrent to smoking, but legislators aren't going to raises taxes on much of anything, said Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls.

"There is a mood among legislators to not raise taxes or fees on any service or business during this legislative session. It's the same as it was last year," he said.

"I'm sympathetic to (the ALA) goal," he added. But "the tax itself does not reflect everything the state does to educate young people on the danger of smoking."

For failing cessation marks, the report points that counseling isn't covered by the state's Medicaid program and its Quitline invests $3.08 per smoker, under the recommended threshold of $10.53.

For its above average smokefree air grade, the report pointed to Idaho prohibiting smoking at schools, government work sites and child care facilities, among others.

Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia also earned all failing grades. Only four states, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine and Oklahoma, received all passing grades. No state received straight "A's."

Full report: www.lungusa.org/associations/states/idaho/