States Ending Payments
RICHMOND, Va., May 27 2005.
Responding to a federal warning to stop using Medicaid to pay for erectile dysfunction drugs for sex offenders, some states this week began to ban the coverage.
On Thursday, Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia, a Democrat, issued an emergency order to stop the payments after the state's Department of Medical Assistance Services found that more than 50 registered sex offenders in Virginia had received Viagra and similar drugs through Medicaid in the last year. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, directed state agencies to stop providing such ex-convicts with the drugs.
"Requiring that convicted sex offenders be provided Viagra for sexual dysfunction, paid for by the taxpayers, is one of the worst policies ever developed by the politicians in Washington," Mr. Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
In New Jersey, the Department of Human Services said on Friday that it would begin informing pharmacists to stop dispensing the drugs to the offenders. Gov. George E. Pataki of New York, a Republican, has issued a temporary ban on public financing of all such drugs until state legislators can enact measures to keep them from sex offenders.
Earlier this week in Texas, bills stipulating that the state would not pay for erectile medication for anyone required to register as a sexual offender passed both chambers of the Legislature.
Virginia's emergency measure gives the state a year to meet requirements to make the order permanent. During that time, the medical assistance department will also assess whether the ban on erectile dysfunction drugs should be extended to all Medicaid recipients.
Federal regulations have required states to provide erectile dysfunction treatments, including Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, to Medicaid recipients since 1998. Recipients can receive four pills a month.
But in a letter Monday to Medicaid issuers in all 50 states, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ordered state agencies to stop offering the drugs to sex offenders or face sanctions. The letter, signed by Dennis G. Smith, the centers' director, stated that under the federal Medicaid statute, states were obligated to prevent inappropriate or unnecessary medical care. The letter said that the use of the drugs by sex offenders was not appropriate.
The issue became publicized after Alan G. Hevesi, the New York State comptroller, said on Sunday that 198 rapists and other high-risk sex offenders in New York had been reimbursed for the drugs in the past five years. Since then, other states have reported paying for the drugs to sex offenders under the Medicaid statute. The reports have prompted debate about whether Medicaid should pay for the drugs at all.
At least one national organization opposes stopping Medicaid-subsidized drugs for erectile dysfunction. On Thursday, Men's Health Network, a nonprofit educational group, issued a statement in favor of continuing the payments.
"In the wake of a recent report that sex offenders in Texas have received Viagra and other sex-enhancing drugs in the taxpayer-funded Medicaid program, M.H.N. wants to reinforce the value of this treatment in sustaining healthy families and spousal relationships," the statement said.
The organization said states should police the treatments to keep them out of the hands of sex offenders, "but not deny this treatment to the various male Medicaid populations who need it the most."
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On Thursday, Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia, a Democrat, issued an emergency order to stop the payments after the state's Department of Medical Assistance Services found that more than 50 registered sex offenders in Virginia had received Viagra and similar drugs through Medicaid in the last year. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, directed state agencies to stop providing such ex-convicts with the drugs.
"Requiring that convicted sex offenders be provided Viagra for sexual dysfunction, paid for by the taxpayers, is one of the worst policies ever developed by the politicians in Washington," Mr. Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
In New Jersey, the Department of Human Services said on Friday that it would begin informing pharmacists to stop dispensing the drugs to the offenders. Gov. George E. Pataki of New York, a Republican, has issued a temporary ban on public financing of all such drugs until state legislators can enact measures to keep them from sex offenders.
Earlier this week in Texas, bills stipulating that the state would not pay for erectile medication for anyone required to register as a sexual offender passed both chambers of the Legislature.
Virginia's emergency measure gives the state a year to meet requirements to make the order permanent. During that time, the medical assistance department will also assess whether the ban on erectile dysfunction drugs should be extended to all Medicaid recipients.
Federal regulations have required states to provide erectile dysfunction treatments, including Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, to Medicaid recipients since 1998. Recipients can receive four pills a month.
But in a letter Monday to Medicaid issuers in all 50 states, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ordered state agencies to stop offering the drugs to sex offenders or face sanctions. The letter, signed by Dennis G. Smith, the centers' director, stated that under the federal Medicaid statute, states were obligated to prevent inappropriate or unnecessary medical care. The letter said that the use of the drugs by sex offenders was not appropriate.
The issue became publicized after Alan G. Hevesi, the New York State comptroller, said on Sunday that 198 rapists and other high-risk sex offenders in New York had been reimbursed for the drugs in the past five years. Since then, other states have reported paying for the drugs to sex offenders under the Medicaid statute. The reports have prompted debate about whether Medicaid should pay for the drugs at all.
At least one national organization opposes stopping Medicaid-subsidized drugs for erectile dysfunction. On Thursday, Men's Health Network, a nonprofit educational group, issued a statement in favor of continuing the payments.
"In the wake of a recent report that sex offenders in Texas have received Viagra and other sex-enhancing drugs in the taxpayer-funded Medicaid program, M.H.N. wants to reinforce the value of this treatment in sustaining healthy families and spousal relationships," the statement said.
The organization said states should police the treatments to keep them out of the hands of sex offenders, "but not deny this treatment to the various male Medicaid populations who need it the most."
More Articles in National >
Danica Patrick, with David Letterman, finished in 4th place, the best finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500.
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