Really? The Government Is Spending A Ton On Penis Pumps: Watchdog

[mfcorey1]

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Penis pumps cost the U.S. government's Medicare program $172 million between 2006 and 2011, about twice as much as the consumer would have paid at the retail level, according to a government watchdog's report released on Monday.

The report by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services said Medicare, the government health insurance system for seniors, paid nearly 474,000 claims for vacuum erection systems, or VES, totaling about $172.4 million from 2006 to 2011. Yearly claims for the devices nearly doubled from $20.6 million in 2006 to $38.6 million in 2011.

According to the Mayo Clinic, penis pumps are one of a few treatment options for erectile dysfunction.

Government waste is a major issue in budget talks in the U.S. capital as lawmakers try to reach agreement on a $1 trillion spending bill.

"Medicare payment amounts for VES remain grossly excessive compared with the amounts that non-Medicare payers pay," said the report, dated December 2013. "Medicare currently pays suppliers more than twice as much for VES as the Department of Veterans Affairs and consumers over the Internet pay for these types of devices."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/penis-pumps-medicare_n_4591918.html

[Voice for Peace]

1. but don't cover birth control, for heaven's sake

[redqueen]

4. Old men 'fornicating' is apparently less sinful to certain employers.

[Sgent]

5. Being fertile

is not considered a disease.

An inability to have a sex life due to prostate cancer is.

I personally think that BC SHOULD be covered for a variety of reasons, but there is a distinction between a prosthetic to treat a disease and a hormone to suppress regular bodily functions.

BC for treatment of disease is covered.

[Voice for Peace]

6. if men can procreate, women need protection.

[joeglow3]

8. How many 66 year olds are trying to get birth control?

[Voice for Peace]

9. I better not get started on this subject..

[Voice for Peace]

10. maybe womb transplants & hormone therapy for post-menopausal women should be covered too?

[Berlum]

2. This started under the Bush-Republicon Administration (R)

Let the record show.

Thus, this must be appreciated as yet another Republicon clusterwank.

[msanthrope]

3. That's not my bag, baby.....

http://m.

[Initech]

7. Really!! It's not mine! I swear!

[47of74]

13. Not mine either.

[rppper]

12. You beat me to it!

"It's nawt my baaag baby...."

[Gothmog]

11. Juanita Jean had some fun with this story

http://www.juanitajean.com/2014/01/14/yeah-but-theyre-really-really-old-winkies/

I don’t know about you but if they offered me the job of Penis Pump Government Watchdog, I would turn it down.

Where does one go buy a retail penis pump? I’m just asking for a friend.

And here’s something else you didn’t want to know.

The report by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services said Medicare, the government health insurance system for seniors, paid nearly 474,000 claims for vacuum erection systems.

There are half a million old men walking around with penis pumps.

Thelma says she would be totally willing to walk around nursing homes in her skin tight leopard print faux leather pants and totally eliminate this need. Being that Thelma wears a size 20 short, we’d need someone to clear a path first and that might cost just as much as a pump. I dunno. But, it might be worth putting pencil to paper

.