Lawmakers restore funding for erectile dysfunction drug benefit
State employees, have no fear -- thanks to the General Assembly, your health coverage will continue to cover drugs to treat erectile dysfunction.
Gov. Tim Kaine (D) had recommended cutting funding for Viagra and similar drugs, as well as non-sedating antihistamines. According to budget documents prepared by his administration, eliminating coverage of the drugs while implementing a "90-day maintenance drug network" would have saved the state $6.8 million over the two-year budget.
The General Assembly agreed to restore funding for the drugs, as you can see in Item 469 #C included as part of the conference report adopted Sunday.
But are lawmakers squeamish? When Kaine recommended the cut, he spelled out the words "erectile dysfunction." But in the assembly's budget, the pills are referred to more obliquely as "ED drugs."
No worries boys (and a few gals), we figured it out.
By
Rosalind Helderman
|
March 16, 2010; 12:58 PM ET
Categories:
General Assembly 2010
,
House of Delegates
,
Rosalind Helderman
,
State Senate
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Posted by: jckdoors | March 16, 2010 1:45 PM | Report abuse
Where are the protests? Why aren't the pro-lifers out chastising people? More erect penises will mean MORE unwanted babies that could eventually be aborted!
Say NO to ED funds and YES to God's will. If the Good lord wants a man's penis to harden, he'll do it himself. STOP VIOLATING GOD'S LAW!
*giggles*
Posted by: BLKManCommonSense | March 16, 2010 1:45 PM | Report abuse
GOP socialized erections.
Posted by: jckdoors | March 16, 2010 1:47 PM | Report abuse
Don't listen to the crank, you're a lovely lady.
Gee, I wonder if they will cover birth control pills to?*sarcasm*
Posted by: EricS2 | March 16, 2010 2:27 PM | Report abuse
GOP "rigged" erections... LOL
Posted by: BLKManCommonSense | March 16, 2010 3:00 PM | Report abuse
This has to be a joke and if it isn't, it's pathetic!!!
Posted by: BigPicture | March 16, 2010 3:14 PM | Report abuse
When you look at the number of men to women in the GA, what would expect?
Posted by: asmith1 | March 16, 2010 3:24 PM | Report abuse
What's the gender makeup of the General Assembly?
Posted by: kithope | March 16, 2010 3:25 PM | Report abuse
Just one more example of "good old boy" Virginia politics. As with the debacle over gender discrimination, I am embarrassed for Virginia. I'm not sure any state legislature in the US is as backward and biased toward women, gays, and minorities as Virginia.
Posted by: olleylane | March 16, 2010 3:25 PM | Report abuse
only if they're giong to pay for birth control and abortions. bunch of hypocrites.
Posted by: aka583 | March 16, 2010 3:33 PM | Report abuse
I live in VA and I don't want my money going to erectile medication. These drugs are not medically necessary and there for should not be covered. If you can't get it up, that's not my problem. If they want to be fair they should cover all forms of birth control and the female equivalent of ED drugs. More government waste.
Posted by: HippieFee | March 16, 2010 3:37 PM | Report abuse
This is just more bad news from Richmond. It would be nice if they could keep election promises to improve roads and education, instead of purchasing sex drugs for themselves. McDonnell, Cuccinelli and the rest of the republicans are jokes.
Posted by: hockeymom1 | March 16, 2010 3:39 PM | Report abuse
"Va. stands firm on aid for erectile dysfunction"
The title of this article is sorta mean, sticking it to those with said ailment, dont'cha think??? BWAHAHAHAHA!!
Article Title FAIL!
Posted by: sigmagrrl | March 16, 2010 3:48 PM | Report abuse
This title is supposed to be a joke, right?
Va. stands firm on aid for erectile dysfunction
Posted by: DKEAT | March 16, 2010 3:51 PM | Report abuse
Well, the rest stops were reopend, so I guess this was next. You never know when...
Posted by: jckdoors | March 16, 2010 4:04 PM | Report abuse
Unbelievable. The GA does everything in it's power to take funding for *my* sexual health prescriptions away via Planned Parenthood (yes, I'm uninsured and yes, I use PP for my monthly birth control prescription), but the second it's suggested that we stop paying for a man's pleasure pills, they come to the defense of a man's right to...well...you know?
This explains why Governor McDonnell think the GA was largely successful this session...
Posted by: MusinginManassas | March 16, 2010 5:25 PM | Report abuse
This is in keeping with the VA state government that just loves to screw the public!!! ;)
Posted by: B-rod | March 16, 2010 5:27 PM | Report abuse
So, Virginia thought it was more important to provide an erectile dysfunction benefit for its state employees than an autism benefit to treat their children on the autism spectrum and save money on social services and school special education programs in the future.
wow, I just HOPE there is a roll call vote on this one.
Posted by: teechamp | March 16, 2010 10:58 PM | Report abuse
It is very important that state health insurance cover ED drugs in VA. Without that important coverage, what would happen to the self-esteem of our Republican public servants?
Posted by: kuato | March 17, 2010 10:08 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
No government money should go towards this. You want to get it up, pay out of pocket.