Medicaid Covers Viagra for Sex Offenders, New York Audit Finds; Comptroller Asks Leavitt to Remedy

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 24 May 2005 - 8:00 PST

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Nearly 200 convicted Level 3 sex offenders in New York state received coverage for the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra as part of their Medicaid benefits, according to state Comptroller Alan Hevesi,... Long Island Newsday reports. Hevesi on Friday sent a letter urging HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt "to take immediate action to ensure that sex offenders do not receive erectile dysfunction medication paid for by the taxpayers." People designated as Level 3 sex offenders have been convicted of such crimes as rape, sexual abuse and sexual conduct against a child and are classified by courts as likely to re-offend. Hevesi said he believed the situation was an "unintended consequence" of a 1998 federal directive requiring Medicaid programs to cover ED treatments. He added that the situation "clearly is worthy of corrective action" (Lowe, Long Island Newsday, 5/23). Hevesi's office received a tip during a routine review to examine the issue. The office verified 198 names of Level 3 sex offenders in New York who were receiving Viagra through Medicaid. The office cross-referenced state Medicaid beneficiaries who use Viagra with an Internet list of 7,400 Level 3 offenders. Sen. Charles Schumer (D.N.Y.) said, "It is just mind-boggling to think that Level 3 sexual offenders can get Viagra, which may indeed help them perpetrate further horrible crimes" (Fleisher, New York Daily News, 5/23). Schumer added that he would introduce a bill to correct the problem if such action was necessary. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that the situation was "deeply disturbing." The auditors did not review whether Medicaid pays for Viagra to sex offenders in other states, but a spokesperson for the comptroller said there was no indication that policies are different elsewhere (Virtanen, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 5/23).

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