US Congress Debates Medical Coverage For Impotence.

[Guest guest]

You can't buy certain vitamins or herbs. They are trying to take away

your right to buy any vitamins. But when it comes to transferring

public monies to Big Pharma, the sky is the limit.

 

 

http://www.wpherald.com/print.php?StoryID=20050517-092619-9505r

 

US Congress Debates Medical Coverage For Impotence.

The Washington Times

Published May 17, 2005

 

The federal government will spend nearly $2 billion in the next decade

on male impotence drugs under its Medicare program, according to a new

cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office that is fueling

some lawmakers' efforts to end that spending.

 

Rep. Steve King, Iowa Republican, is sponsoring a bill to prohibit

most erectile dysfunction drug sales under Medicare, the government's

insurance program for the elderly and disabled, and released the cost

figures yesterday as part of his effort.

 

" It's a number that's just shocking, " Mr. King said. " When you're

looking at it starting out at $90 million a year [in fiscal year 2006]

and goes up [by 2015] to $280 million -- that's not loose change.

That's a huge pile of recreational drug bills. "

 

The federal body that runs Medicare ruled earlier this year that

drugs to treat male impotence such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra will

be covered as of Jan. 1, 2006, when the full drug coverage program

created by Congress two years ago takes effect.

 

Jeff Trewhitt, a spokesman for Pharmaceutical Research and

Manufacturers of America, said his group was still looking at the

Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) estimate and would not comment.

But he said the organization is opposed to Mr. King's bill.

 

" Products that treat erectile dysfunction are part of the overall

treatment of patients. Medicare and Medicaid patients should not be

like second-class citizens when their diseases are treated, " he said.

 

The CBO estimated that Medicare spending on impotence drugs would

be $1.93 billion over 10 years, with $730 million being spent in the

first five years. After 2010, the CBO estimate shows spending

increasing by $20 million a year and figures that the government will

be spending $280 million a year by 2015.

 

In announcing their decision to include the medications, Medicare

officials said the law required them to cover drugs approved by the

Food and Drug Administration that are medically necessary.

 

Women's groups were outraged at the time, saying it was

hypocritical for the government to cover erectile dysfunction

medications while not ensuring access to birth control for women of

all ages.

 

" We call on the Bush White House to drop its opposition to the

morning-after pill to ensure that women have equitable access to

prescriptions for their reproductive health. This issue isn't about

Viagra; it is about fairness and equality, " said Nancy Keenan,

president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

 

Mr. King's bill has 26 co-sponsors, ranging from conservatives and

limited-government Republicans such as Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona and

Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. of Virginia to Democrats such as Rep. Dennis

J. Kucinich of Ohio, Rep. James P. Moran of Virginia and Rep. Chris

Van Hollen of Maryland.

 

But Mr. King said he wants more sponsors before calling for hearings.

 

" We've got to beat this drum and get more people to sign on. You

would think this would be the easiest bill in Congress to pass, " he

said. " If we can't pass this legislation and Medicare moves forward

and funds recreational sex drugs for seniors, then what couldn't we

fund with the taxpayers' dollars? "