Sex Offenders get Viagra...

[DKW 86 7,441]

Link

N.Y. Audit: Sex Offenders Getting Viagra By MICHAEL VIRTANEN, Associated Press Writer

Sun May 22,10:36 PM ET

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.

No, It never should have happened but we have idiots all over the country that think that govt run whatever is just Nirvana. This is just more stupidity put into law.

[AURaptor 1,126]

Sex offenders deserve love too! Who are YOU to deny them their rights ?

This is another example for all those lovers of BigGov't gone amuck.

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

[Jenny AU-92 0]

Texas is already on this - Link

"Tax payer dollars should not be used for sex-enhancing drugs for people who have been convicted of a sex offense," [Attorney General Greg] Abbott said.

It's why the AG is calling on the Texas Health Human Services Commission to change Medicaid rules to prohibit paroled sex offenders from using taxpayer money to get sex enhancing drugs.

Also, Abbott is asking the Texas Legislature to take immediate action to prohibit convicted sex offender from receiving sex-enhancing drugs.

"I think it is appropriate for the AG to ask for legislation to put a stop to that," concerned citizen Ron Bennett said.

This investigation is just beginning. The AG's office says it's sure to find out more on this issue.