Bob McDonnell, Virginia Governor, Cuts Viagra, Erectile Dysfunction Drugs From State Employee Health Plans

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) has followed through on plans laid out by former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) to eliminate erectile dysfunction prescriptions from a list of drugs covered by state employee health plans, where they had been since the beginning of their availability in the late 1990s.

The cutting of erectile dysfunction and non-sedating antihistamines, along with the creation of a a new 90-day maintenance drug network is expected to save Virginia $7 million annually in the state's upcoming two-year budget plan, the Washington Examiner reports.

Though Gov. Kaine had recommended last December that such medications be stricken from a list of state-provided drugs, the General Assembly agreed in March to restore their funding.

According to the Examiner, Virginia's legislature will meet for a single-day session this week to debate and vote on McDonnell's budget proposals.

Comments

[One more Thing]

10:15 AM on 04/20/2010

What the tourist minded Governor and aspiring Republican candidate president candidate wants you to know is: Virginia is not for erectile dysfunctional Lovers!

[Jeannette Lacey]

01:08 AM on 04/20/2010

shthar is right. But I will say this: my health plan does not cover birth control, abortion, and will not pay for tests such as pap smears. All this I have had to pay for out-of-pocket. While I do not mean to sound like I'm gloating, it is sort of refreshing (if that is the proper word) to see conservative politicians trying to cut a health product that is NOT for women. We shall see, though, what finally happens. Men have far more clout than women, and if they gripe loud enough, I predict they will get their little blue pills back. Women's health concerns have mostly fallen on deaf ears regarding our coverage.

[shthar]

06:45 PM on 04/19/2010

I wonder if this has something to do with keeping Abortion out of state employee plans? Or a pre-emptive strike on such.