Virginia Bans Viagra for Sex Offenders

Apparently, this is becoming a trend. Yesterday, we passed on word of New York’s governor George Pataki stopping state subsidies of Viagra to preclude accidentally giving it to sex offenders. Now, Virginia’s Mark Warner is doing the same thing, albeit in a more targeted manner.

Warner bars Viagra payments for sex offenders (AP)

Medicaid paid the costs of Viagra and other prescription impotence drugs for 52 men registered as violent sex offenders in Virginia, a state official said Thursday. Gov. Mark R. Warner issued an emergency order Thursday that bars the state from paying for the drugs for those 52 men under the government program for the poor, elderly and disabled.

The cost of the drugs was at least $3,085, said Patrick Finnerty, director of the state’s Department of Medical Assistance Services. That does not include prescriptions for a few offenders who participated in managed care programs whose premiums are paid through Medicaid.

Another major problem solved. Another $3,085 will go a long way in solving Northern Virginia’s traffic woes.

Related: New York Ends Viagra Subsidies to Stop Sex Offenders

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Maggie says:

    Sure they want you to think they care about the American people… the truth of the matter is that they are all worried about the criminals now that the FDA is investigating several cases of blindness for those on Viagra.

  2. Brian J. says:

    Governor Matt Blunt did the same for Missouri.

  3. FMF says:

    Good thing they’re stopping it — or else we’d then have to compensate the sex offenders further when they go blind!!! (see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8004291/)

  4. Mark says:

    Just think of this as Governor Warner doing issueing a preemptive strike against one of the potential causes of blindness. Heh.

  5. mike says:

    Good thing they’re stopping it!

  6. McGehee says:

    If using Viagra is causing blindness, too many men are using it for the wrong reason…