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Medicaid

Feds To States: Pay For Viagra

Many of the nation's governors are infuriated after receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ordering them to pay for the costs of Viagra under their Medicaid programs. Any state Medicaid program that pays for prescription medicines must also pay for the expensive male impotence drug, the letter said. The directive will add $100 million to $200 million nationwide to states' Medicaid expenses, according to estimates supplied by a spokeswoman for the American Public Welfare Association. Nearly four million men are covered by Medicaid. While states may decide whether or not to pay for prescription drugs, every state has chosen to do so. State officials point out that virtually none of the states cover birth control or fertility treatments for women. At least a dozen states had decided not to cover the pill, with an equal number deciding to do so. The rest had reportedly been awaiting federal guidelines. The timing of the letter -- sent out on July 2 by Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, head of the Health Care Financing Administration -- angered several states because they contended HHS had promised to meet with state officials before settling the matter. Critics have reportedly begun to try to persuade Congress to overturn the directive. Source: Amy Goldstein, "U.S. Tells States to Cover Viagra Prescriptions Under Medicaid," Washington Post, July 3, 1998.

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