House Diverts Money for ED Drugs
to Hurricane Relief
07 October, 2005
The House has voted to divert federal funds covering
erectile dysfunction drugs to hurricane relief. The bill's sponsor
said the government would save $690 million over five years by prohibiting
Medicare and Medicaid health care programs from subsidizing prescriptions
for sexual performance drugs.
The money will be used to provide $500 million
in federal unemployment funds to hurricane-affected states to help
them pay benefits to out-of-work people. The bill, passed by voice
vote, also extends several health programs that assist low-income
families nationwide.
The Senate has also approved legislation to end
federal funding for such drugs. The House earlier this year approved
a similar amendment to a spending bill covering health programs.
To read more:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/5069416/detail.html?rss=den&psp=irresistible
