Abolishing Viagra Coverage by the State still Awaits Green Signal
According to the Gov. of New York, George Pataki's budget, there has been a proposal to eliminate the state's funding of the anti-erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra which still waits to be approved. Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage or EPIC covers the medical expenses of the seniors by providing them medical coverage and help them pay for prescriptions.
According to the new proposal EPIC should stop paying for the prescriptions of erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, to the seniors. About 360,000 seniors are enrolled in the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program that helps them to pay for their prescription drugs.
There are around 3500 men enrolled in this program who get paid for their prescriptions of erectile dysfunction drug. Eliminating reimbursement for these kinds of drugs would save a huge amount 0f $670,000 in the fiscal year 2006-2007 which would be otherwise spent on these prescription drugs.
Although the proposal still awaits approval yet even if it is approved it will not include such people who take Viagra for therapeutic use for treating diseases other than impotence. There are diseases like pulmonary hypertension which is treated with Viagra. Thus if the seniors take Viagra for treating conditions other than erectile dysfunction, the state would fund their medical expenses.
Source: The Post Standard, February 6, 2006 |
