Medicare Is Paying Way Too Much For Penis Pumps

[Capt. Obvious]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Talking Points Memo

Medicare is paying "grossly excessive" amounts for vacuum erection systems, informally known as penis pumps, which are generally used by men who fail to cure their erectile dysfunction problem with drugs such as Viagra.

That's the conclusion of a recent report by the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, which found that Medicare was paying twice as much for VES (and similar devices) as non-Medicare payers like the Department of Veterans Affairs and Internet consumers.

The inspector general found that from 2006-2011, the government spent $172.4 million on 473,620 claims for these penis pumps, and saw the claims spike during the six-year period. Taxpayers would have saved $14.4 million, and beneficiaries would have saved $3.6 million, during each of those six years if Medicare was paying standard rates.

The IG's recommendation? Establish a payment limit or seek legislative changes to include VES in the competitive bidding process.

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it is only overpaying for the penis pumps because the law requires it to.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ig-report-penis-pumps-ves

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I swear baby, it's not my bag.

[Xyzse]

1. Uh, what?

You mean, this is covered in medicare?

I didn't know that. In fact, I thought those were mostly gag gifts, not meant to work, but just as a fun little toy.

[Submariner]

5. Birth control pill junkies

Well it's because Liberal woman cannot control their libido when provided with birth control pills, and want to have sex all the time, as recently explained to us by Huckabee.

And because these "loose" women have put such demands on us Liberal guys to have sex all the time, the need to upgrade to hydraulics has been necessary in order to keep up with the stamina of these birth control pill junkies.

[Xyzse]

8. I see...

[merrily]

32. IOW, Huckabee can't get it up, even with Viagra, and he blames his wife.

I apologize. I don't usually say things like that, but, really, who could resist.

[groundloop]

7. You're thinking of something different

What this article is talking about, I'm quite certain, is an implanted device.

I know a nurse who had an elderly gentleman as a patient who had this device. He had developed Alzheimers and one time pumped up his penis and couldn't remember how to deflate himself.

[Swede Atlanta]

30. No, a penis pump is used to pull blood flow into the penis to create an erection....

http://www.medicinenet.com/penis_prosthesis/article.htm

Some men also use them to either theoretically increase the size of the penis by repeated use or to achieve orgasm.

A sample is shown on the first page of the linked article to the original post.

[kimbutgar]

2. So women can't have birth control but men can pump up their penises on tax payers money?

[monmouth3]

4. O.M.G...Sorry but that was priceless..Bwahahahaha...Winner of the day IMO..n/t

[Xithras]

9. It's considered a disability.

Like a hearing aid or a cane. It's a medical device to restore or augment lost functionality in a body part that has been damaged due to injury or illness. As an example, they're used by prostate cancer survivors because prostate removal surgery often damages the nerves required to for the penis to operate normally, ending the patients ability to maintain a natural erection. These pumps are the only way they can function "normally".

Don't get me wrong, I believe that birth control should be available to anyone who wants it at no charge, but you can't equate the two.

[Sweet Freedom]

18. Actually

I don't think Medicare covers hearing aids. My mom needs one and she's having to save to buy it. They are expensive.

[cstanleytech]

20. Did she check to see if medicaid covers it though?

[Sweet Freedom]

23. Medicaid does not cover them either

(And even if it did, she does not have Medicaid.)

[llmart]

31. Not everyone on Medicare....

is eligible for Medicaid.

And no, basic Medicare does not cover hearing/dental/vision. But THIS they can cover?

[valerief]

27. Pregnancy is a disability to someone who doesn't want to be pregnant. nt

[merrily]

33. How about just being older? That's not an illness.

That has to be the most common reason for needing Viagra or a penis pump.

[Herself]

10. penis rules...

those that right the rules think with the little one.

[kimbutgar]

11. Ironic isn't it?

The same people who justify rape and Viagra don't want women to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

[another_liberal]

16. Most of our laws are written by men.

Old, worn out, wrinkled up men at that. Go figure.

[SummerSnow]

3. image..lol

[MADem]

6. My first thought was Austin Powers....my second thought was that pervy judge with the woosh-woosh on

the bench who was using his device while adjudicating.

What a waste of money! I'll bet the ACA will start to reveal a plethora of abuses of this nature; it's amazing how much money one can save if one just pays attention to where the money is going.

[Revanchist]

12. Is there any medical device/prescription that Medicare isn't paying too much for? N/T

[TNNurse]

13. In contrast

I as a woman with lymphedema as a result of breast cancer, ask you to check this site.

Please find www.lymphedematreatmentact.org we who have this condition whether from cancer, injury or congenital origin need your help.

Lymphedema is chronic, it requires constant daily attention. Most of us must wear compression garments to help contain the swelling in the affected part. Mine is my arm, some are legs or trunk. Without these garments, the swelling causes tissue damage and the ever constant possibility of infection. As of now, Medicare does not pay for these garments. They are necessary to keep us free from infections and possible debilitating problems.

If you find this a more urgent need than penis pumps, please join us and contact your Congressman. The above site will guide you in the process.

Thank you.

[merrily]

34. I am so sorry for your troubles. I will do this tomorrow.

Need to attend to other things now.

If you have not done so, you may want to start a thread with this info in the Lounge. Being in the middle of a thread, it tends to get lost.

[another_liberal]

14. How much extra will it cost us . . .

A question comes to mind: How much extra will it cost us when the inevitable rash of over-inflated, exploded penises begins? (The horror! The horror!)

[armed_and_liberal]

15. $367.38 each?

At that price I hope they come (cum?) with attachments to do upholstery and drapes! At the least a crevice tool!

[Amaril]

25. .............crevice tool!

Best. Pun. EVER!

[Nanjing to Seoul]

26. You can buy one from a porn site for 30 bucks.

[PeoViejo]

17. What, they don't have a tongue?

I mean, really.....

[Arkana]

19. And all their clients are old white dudes, right?

[dickthegrouch]

21. There was a cartoon a few years ago

which showed the pharmacy counter line for Viagra completely clear, and a series of hurdles in the line for RU-486. This is just more of the same. Men get subsidised to produce and women get slammed for not wanting to produce.

FWIW, the pills (Viagra, Cialis and Levitra) all gave me a terrible headache even in concentrations that didn't produce the intended effects. I use an injected medicine from Boston Medical which works far better and doesn't have either the restrictions, or the side effects, of the pills. The injection doesn't hurt in the slightest and I wish I'd found out about it 20 years earlier. YMMV

[Thor_MN]

35. Injection? Um... where? If you don't mind my asking...

Got a visual that would have certain topological advantages, but doesn't square with "doesn't hurt in the slightest"...

[packman]

22. wow

talk about inflation or is it all empty air promises?

[valerief]

24. From the king of the pumpers...

[Titonwan]

28. Yer danged tootin' they are.

With the likes of Jay Rockefeller and Max Baucus...
oh... my bad.

[SoapBox]

29. It seems that "Dr. 90210" did a repair on

one of these implants on an episode.

I fully agree with posts that say the rules are written for men.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

36. Medicare pays too much for many things

... due to Congressional corruption.

The penis pump is just one (very mockable) example.

Congress needs to allow Medicare to negotiate prices.

[muriel_volestrangler]

37. Locking - IG report was from December, and reported elsewhere 3 weeks ago

including on DU: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024330255

TPM has picked up on this so late we can't call it 'breaking news'.