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| Does the government fund your cancer prescriptions? |
purplewings |
05/23/05 |
Probably not since the money is going here instead:
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 22) - Scores of convicted rapists and other high-risk sex offenders in New York have been getting Viagra paid by Medicaid for the last five years, the state's comptroller said Sunday.
Audits by Comptroller Alan Hevesi's office showed that between January 2000 and March 2005, 198 sex offenders in New York received Medicaid-reimbursed Viagra after their convictions. Those included crimes against children as young as 2 years old, he said.
Hevesi asked Michael Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in a letter Sunday to "take immediate action to ensure that sex offenders do not receive erectile dysfunction medication paid for by taxpayers."
A call to Leavitt's office was not immediately returned Sunday.
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.
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Clarification/Follow-up by tarot10 on 05/23/05 12:49 pm:
These sex offender feel they have the right to these drugs just as much as anyone else. They are the first to run to the law to make sure they don't get their rights trampled over. They know the law better than we do. If anyone tries to take their viagara away, you better believe it they won't take it lying down.
Clarification/Follow-up by tarot10 on 05/23/05 12:59 pm:
crimminals always know how to beat the system. They'll find a way to get the government to pay for everything. That's why some of them like being in jail so they can be on welfare the rest of their lives without any children for dependents.
They probably also get viagara (even if they don't really need it) to mock the government.
Clarification/Follow-up by tarot10 on 05/23/05 1:24 pm:
These sex offenders probably sell them too. They can sell each pill for $5 to underaged kids.
Clarification/Follow-up by tarot10 on 05/24/05 6:33 am:
Hello Purplewings
I hope law makers are smart enough to make it illegal for sex offenders to get prescriptions for these drugs. Otherwise, they will continue to get a hold of them even if the government won't pay for them. It should be illegal for sex offenders to use these drugs and they should be tested (a test made if one doesn't exist) when they get caught commiting a sex crime.
Clarification/Follow-up by purplewings on 05/24/05 6:46 am:
I absolutely agree with you. Thanks.
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