Sen. Clinton Aims to Expand Medicaid Eligibility

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) on Aug. 2 said that it is "sexist" for the Medicaid program to cover Viagra but limit access to contraceptives, the New York Post reports. Federal Medicaid rules require states to cover Viagra for beneficiaries when physicians say that the drug is "medically necessary" for treatment, although states can limit the number of doses per month that they will cover. Physicians often prescribe Viagra to treat impotence related to prostate cancer treatment. Federal Medicaid rules also require states to provide contraceptive coverage for beneficiaries with incomes of up to 135% of the federal poverty level. Clinton said that she would like to expand the threshold to 200% FPL. The New York Post reports that Clinton said that "broaching the idea of cutting off" Viagra coverage under Medicaid "might make men more seriously consider expanding" contraceptive coverage under the program. Clinton spokesperson Karen Dunn said that the senator "isn't planning to back a law that would remove Viagra from Medicaid coverage," but "just wants to expand contraceptive coverage for poor women." However, aides said that Clinton is "angry" because the Bush administration rejected New York's application to expand contraceptive coverage in its Medicaid program, although officials with the Bush administration and New York Gov. George Pataki (R) say "that's not the case" (Blomquist, New York Post, 8/3).