The Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund (CRF) was established in 2000 by the Maryland General Assembly (SB896/HB4125) to reduce the cancer incidence and mortality in Maryland. The legislation required the establishment of a local public health component to coordinate efforts in each jurisdiction. The local public health component of the CRF is the Cancer Prevention, Education, Screening, and Treatment Program (CPEST).
The purpose of the CPEST Program is to reduce cancer mortality in Maryland and to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes among whites and ethnic minorities. There are seven targeted cancers identified as priorities under the Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund Program (CRFP). CRFP funds may be used to provide prevention, early detection, and/or treatment services for the targeted cancers. The seven-targeted cancers are lung and bronchus, colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate, skin (melanoma), and oral cancers.