Published: May 22, 2005 ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - 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.
Posted on 05/22/2005 7:33:28 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
New York Comptroller: Sex Offenders Have Been Getting Viagra Paid by Medicaid
Published: May 22, 2005 ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - 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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On the Net:
New York Comptroller's Office: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/
AP-ES-05-22-05 2156EDT
But please, go ahead and keep raising my taxes. The only thing I want to pay for is more audits. This is insanity.
Now WHO was President in 1998 when that pathetically stupid edict was issued to the states from Medicare? Yes, it was Billy Jeff, who certainly considered erectile function to be a vital part of his presidency at that time.
Your tax dollars at work.
Rejoice!
It's a shame these pervs weren't court ordered to receive provera instead. (aka chemical castration)
Too bad it wasn't a more vital part of his presidency -- might have spared him (and us!) Monica, the blue dress, "I did not sleep with that woman," "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is" and impeachement.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1404433/posts
I do cannot fault businesses when people want the government to rob their neighbors and give them stuff for free. The businesses trade their product for money. The crime is happening in the voting booth.
My husband is an auditor for the State of NY. Unfortunately, auditing is a necessary job. If everyone was honest and there was no fraud in the world, it might be a different story.
Dummkopfs! This is the last thing we should be providing sex offenders.
This is unfair! Where's the free firearms for convicted armed robbers?
The sight of this majestic shell now being weaned on white bread alone caused me to concoct a plot whereby I throw a couple Viagra down my friend's pocket-pup's open mouth and accidently lose him around the Rottweiler cage up at Pet Smart.
The outrageously expensive Medicare Program is the culmination of many, many years and millions upon millions of dollars spent by the Healthcare Industry to build a Gov't subsidized market for their products and services. It will swamp us all while a relative few will be enormously enriched.
But please, go ahead and keep raising my taxes. The only thing I want to pay for is more audits.
Fact is, business doesn't have the votes. People vote for 'free healthcare', and the Republicans decided they wanted to appeal to those voters.
http://www.docs.state.ny.us/
Unbelievable
Your tax dollars at work.
Unbelievable!! I wonder how many of these offenders have raped again because of it.
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