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Impotent State Employees May Receive Viagra
By Ed Crump
23 June 2004
The state senate's version of next year's budget is offering new
hope to a very specific group of state employees. The $15.8 billion
plan would help impotent employees, in the state's health plan,
pay for Viagra, Cialis
or Levitra. But is this a benefit
that state employees really seem to want?
There was a time when visits to the doctor were less painful for state employees - well at least less painful on the pocketbook. But many state employees say that's changed in recent years.
"It's not nearly as good as it used to be," Lanning said.
State employees like Kristin Lanning say over the years their health benefits have eroded while the cost has gone up. All the while, they haven't had a significant raise. "State employees should be entitled to what other good health coverage has."
Viagra and other treatments for erectile dysfunction are an example of where state employees health benefits have been cut.
A few years ago when state employees using Viagra, Levitra and
other erectile
dysfunction drugs ran up a half-million dollar bill, the state
banned those drugs as well as drugs that prevent balding, wrinkles
and fight fat.
Now, in one version of the state senate budget, limited doses of Viagra and similar drugs are back on the list. Is that a step in the right direction?
Hardly, says Jayce Williams, who'd like to have better vision coverage.
"If you can't see at work, and taking care of your eyes is a problem, I would think that would be a good plus. I mean... Crump.. Better than Levitra or Viagra. Williams… Absolutely."
"The drugs that you just mentioned I may not personally use but I think even more important it would be if we could get our deductible back into a better range," Williams said.
Lanning says if the Legislature does something about that she might have reason to celebrate, but three doses of Viagra a month isn't exactly a restoration of lost benefits.
source :- http://abclocal.go.com
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