BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Federal officials face a battle with Ohio and other states over Medicaid coverage of Viagra, the male impotence drug.
In a letter to Donna Shalala, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ohio Gov. George Voinovich this week urged the federal government to reconsider a July 2 directive ordering states to cover Viagra under their Medicaid programs.
Viagra is so popular that covering it could cost Ohio up to $12.6 million a year -- money Gov. Voinovich argues could be better spent on programs such as health insurance coverage for children. The drug costs $8 to $10 a pill.
"If the (prescription drug) rebate program is going to result in a system which mandates lifestyle drugs as a priority over other critical health issues, then the time has come to review the parameters of the program," the governor wrote.
Governors in several states have complained that federal officials failed to consider the potential for misuse and abuse of Viagra. Several deaths have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since the drug went on the market three months ago.
Moreover, some state officials have questioned why they should be forced to cover Viagra for men when virtually none of the states covers birth control or infertility treatments for women.
"We don't think Viagra should be covered, and we intend to do everything we can to avoid covering it," said Phil Bremen, spokesman for Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon.
Mr. O'Bannon and other governors are trying to enlist their state congressional delegations to overturn the order with legislation. Several governors have scheduled a conference call Monday to discuss the subject, Mr. Bremen said.
Melissa Forsythe, spokeswoman for Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton, said she was unaware of any similar action taken by Kentucky officials.
Medicaid is a public insurance program for the poor, elderly and disabled that is funded jointly by the federal government and the states. Nearly 4 million men are in the program nationwide.
Based on a survey of several states, Viagra coverage could take $200 million a year from Medicaid budgets across the country, said Jennifer Baxendell, director of health legislation for the National Governors' Association (NGA).
Mr. Voinovich, NGA chairman, said he would rather spend the money to boost health insurance coverage for poor children and senior citizens, two initiatives undertaken by the Clinton administration.
"We aren't saying states shouldn't be allowed to cover Viagra," Ms. Baxendell said. "But no state should be required to do so."
When the federal Health Care Financing Administration ordered states to cover Viagra costs under Medicaid, the agency said federal law requires the program to pay for most drugs approved by the FDA.
Ohio has provided no coverage for the drug. Indiana started paying for Viagra on June 6, then reversed course June 25 after spending $11,600, said Andrew Stoner, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services.
New York and Wisconsin health officials have said they will ignore the federal directive.
It isn't clear what will happen to states that refuse to comply. Poor people could sue for the drugs, or the federal government could withhold Medicaid money from states.
More on Viagra from Associated Press
