No Universal Health Care In The US, But

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MrsSpringsteen

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the govt pays for Level 3 sex offenders to get Viagra :happy:

unbelievable..


NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York's comptroller urged the nation's top health official Sunday to ban high-risk sex offenders and convicted rapists from receiving Viagra paid for by Medicaid.

"Federal, state and local reimbursement for the cost of erectile dysfunction drugs for sex offenders raises serious policy considerations and has the potential to place the public at risk," Comptroller Alan Hevesi wrote Michael Leavitt, secretary of Health and Human Services.

"I am asking that you take immediate action to ensure that sex offenders do not receive erectile dysfunction medication paid for by the taxpayers. I urge you to take administrative action to remedy the situation or draft an amendment to the underlying statute as appropriate," Hevesi wrote.

Hevesi said his office found that from January 1, 2000, through March 31, 2005, 198 Level 3 sex offenders received Medicaid-reimbursed Viagra after being convicted of a sex offense. Sex offenders are those convicted of crimes such as rape, sexual abuse, and sexual conduct against a child.

Level 3 offenders are those considered by the courts most likely to commit crimes again.

According to Hevesi, his office determined in its audit that the victims of the sex crimes during the five-year period ranged from toddlers to a woman as old as 90; and the crimes included first-degree rape.

Hevesi said he also has alerted the State Department of Health, which administers the Medicaid program in New York.

The review has not yet examined whether any of the Level 3 offenders are receiving prescriptions for other erectile dysfunction drugs which came on the market after the 1998 directive.

Hevesi said his office did not look at Level 1 (low) and Level 2 (moderate) offenders.

The New York Sex Offender Registration Act requires the Division of Criminal Justice Services to maintain a Sex Offender Registry, and post a list of Level 3 offenders on the Internet.
 
This is one of the stupidest government programs I've ever heard of. Maybe the stupidest. I can't believe it. I'm going to write my Senators and Congressman and complain about this.
 
Coverage for things like Viagra is a result of the way Medicare regulations are written.

The system is imperfect, but we can't long for "universal healthcare" until we (i) define what we want and (ii) determine how much we want to pay.
 
I understand nbc that's how Medicare works, but the govt can't prevent level three sex offenders from getting Viagra? The regulations can be changed. They should have to pay for their Viagra. People who aren't sex offenders who legitimately need it for their sexual problems should be able to get it from Medicare, I'm not arguing w/ that.

That is just so wrong in my opinion, as is the fact that my fellow citizens and I can't get free health care but sex offenders can get free Viagra :mad:
 
This is an interesting topic: should rights to healthcare be changed based on other behavior (i.e., criminal convictions, etc.)?

You could call for an end to subsidised Viagra to level 3 sex offenders, but your political opponent will paint you as one who takes away rights to healthcare.
 
...According to Hevesi, the problem is an unintended consequence of a 1998 directive from federal officials telling states that Medicaid prescription programs must include Viagra. His office discovered that the state was helping sex offenders pay for Viagra by checking Medicaid pharmacy expenditures against the state's sex offender registry.

New York's two senators said Sunday the problem should be corrected.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement that it was "deeply disturbing and runs contrary to the purpose of Medicaid, which is to provide health care coverage for uninsured, low-income individuals." Clinton, a Democrat, urged Leavitt to look into the matter, and said she would explore legislative options.

New York's other senator, Democrat Chuck Schumer, said at a press conference in New York City that he hoped the issue could be resolved without a bill, but he's prepared to offer one if needed.

"While I believe that HHS did not do this intentionally, when the government pays for Viagra for sex offenders, it could well hurt many innocent people," he said.

New York auditors are reviewing whether other prescription drugs for sexual dysfunction are being reimbursed by Medicaid for convicted sex offenders, Hevesi spokesman David Neustadt said.

While the auditors didn't review the situation on Viagra reimbursement by Medicaid in other states, he said they have no indication that the policies are different elsewhere.
 
MrsSpringsteen said:
I know diabetics who have to pay for their testing supplies (which are not cheap), but Viagra is covered. Somehow that doesn't seem fair to me

well said.

in terms of day to day well being, insulin is a necessity for many people with diabetes. without it, people could die.

viagra? not so much.

another perfect example of how our society is too soft on sex offenders, to the point of enabling them in some circumstances.
 
dandy said:

in terms of day to day well being, insulin is a necessity for many people with diabetes. without it, people could die.
viagra? not so much.

Maybe too many people think sex is a life or death necessity.

I also have people in my family who have diabetes, so that makes me angry that Viagra is paid for..nevermind for sex offenders. And they didn't get diabetes from being overweight-it runs in my family.

I think when another medical condition causes a sexual problem, Viagra should possibly be paid for. Yes sexual health can be considered part of overall health, but you can still live w/ out Viagra and sex. Not w/ out insulin.
 
verte76 said:
I'll be damned if Viagra is healthcare. People don't need sex the way a diabetic needs insulin.
Well i not agree about this, if people have sexual problems, it could give them a lot of mental problems. I think that could be more expensive ( sp ) in the future.
 
Irvine511 said:
perhaps it has something to do with laws being written by the old white men of Congress?

I think we have a winner!
 
Rono said:
Well i not agree about this, if people have sexual problems, it could give them a lot of mental problems. I think that could be more expensive ( sp ) in the future.

I don't agree, let's suppose it does cause mental problems, and I'm not convinced that all do because I know plenty of nuns, priests and monks who are celibate (and I think they are keeping their vows) and doing fine. Anyway, mental problems don't kill, but a diabetic who isn't getting insulin is really up a creek, health-wise; I don't know if it's life-threatening but it's devastating to the body. Diabetes killed people before the scientists isolated insulin back in the '20's, I do know that.
 
Yes it is life threatening, especially for insulin dependent diabetics. If you are non-dependent it's still life threatening if you don't have your diabetes medication and/or test enough.

I really don't think going w/ out sex if you need Viagra can compare.
 
While I don't have a problem with Viagra being covered in and of itself, I DO have a problem when it is covered and other things such as aforementioned diabetes testing supplies aren't. On some level it makes me even angrier that birth control pills aren't as widely covered as viagra is :mad:.
 
ILuvLarryMullen said:
While I don't have a problem with Viagra being covered in and of itself, I DO have a problem when it is covered and other things such as aforementioned diabetes testing supplies aren't. On some level it makes me even angrier that birth control pills aren't as widely covered as viagra is :mad:.

:up:
 
MrsSpringsteen said:


That's a very good point

It makes no logical sense :eyebrow:

Especially since birth control has medical functions not related to sex. But I guess that it is more important for old guys to get boners than for women to prevent unwanted pregnancy, get relief from severe menstrual problems, etc.
 
True ILLM, but of course it's not just used by old guys, there are younger guys who need it for medical reasons (I know you know that, don't mean to insult you :) ).
 
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