Congress seeks to strip Medicare coverage for penis pumps

[zoegirltx]

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/04/congress-wants-to-cut-medicare-coverage-of-a-legit-medical-device-penis-pumps/



So why did the federal government cover these devices in the first place? For one, penis pumps are a legit medical treatment for people with erectile dysfunction, especially as an alternative to taking pills.



As a result, Medicare covers the penis pumps — or vacuum erection systems (VES), if you want to be all scientific about it — under its durable medical equipment program, known as DMEPOS. The Inspector General report explains: “Because VES are used to treat impotence, and because impotence is a failure of the body part for which the diagnosis, and frequently the treatment, requires medical expertise, VES constitute a type of DMEPOS eligible for coverage under [Medicare] Part B.” …



As much as many people might not want to think about it, old people are having sex — and a lot more than you might imagine. A comprehensive 2007 New England Journal of Medicine survey on seniors’ sex lives found that more than half of people 64 to 75 reported having sex with a partner in the previous year, while it was 26 percent for people ages 75 to 85. For sexually active older men, their most commonly reported issue was erection trouble (37 percent).



We eagerly await Rush Limbaugh’s tirade against the federal government for subsidizing promiscuity among old men.

[saz]

Is no sex for old people the new no skittles for poor people?

[noeliav]

Whelp, if they don't want to cover birth control for women, then this should go too.

That said, I agree with Stan. Penis pumps for all.

[penguingrrl]

In a world where contraception is controversial I don't see how covering penis pumps and pills is okay. In a world where having sex is part of healthy living (i.e. the world I live in) I think *all* of it should be covered.

I still find it hyper offensive that viagra is covered and contraception isn't. It's basically saying sex is important, you should have sex, but you should DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES YOU SLUT!

[penguingrrl]

Dec 5, 2014 12:53:47 GMT -5 Stan said:

Dec 5, 2014 12:45:29 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

In a world where contraception is controversial I don't see how covering penis pumps and pills is okay. In a world where having sex is part of healthy living (i.e. the world I live in) I think *all* of it should be covered.

I still find it hyper offensive that viagra is covered and contraception isn't. It's basically saying sex is important, you should have sex, but you should DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES YOU SLUT!

I just don't think any of it should be controversial and taking sex away from the olds because proper BC is controversial to people who are wrong is also unfair.

Completely agree. I also have the same attitude about teens having sex (although you can check back in on that in about 7-10 years when my daughters are teens).