Medicare Is Paying Way Too Much For Penis Pumps

[Tx4obama]

Medicare Is Paying Way Too Much For Penis Pumps

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.

-snip-

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

"Medicare prices for medical equipment prescribed by a doctor are set in statute by Congress," CMS said in a statement. "In addition, while Medicare strives to pay appropriately for items and services, only Congress has the authority to subject this equipment to competitive bidding program, as the Inspector General recommended. In cases where we have been able to use competitive bidding, the program has saved taxpayers and beneficiaries more than $400 million, and CMS projects savings in the billions over the next 10 years."

-snip-

Full article here: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ig-report-penis-pumps-ves

[Warren DeMontague]

1. To be fair, this one looks really high-end.

I mean, it's straight out of a Stanley Kubrick movie.

[Scootaloo]

2. Do you think it sings Daisy Girl? n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

5. That's only after you've removed 3/4th of the batteries

Please stop. Stop, Dave.

[BainsBane]

3. Before I clicked on the thread

I knew you'd be in here. You just can't resist a good penis story.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. Are you kidding? Wouldn't miss it.

I haven't even started on the "open the pod bay" jokes, yet.

[BainsBane]

6. Think of how much Medicare expenses will go up

When the man with two penises hits his twilight years.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. See, I know what you're doing, here.

You're trying to get me to image search "dual penis pump" because you know then I'm gonna get targeted for some really weird google ads for the next 3 months.



Besides, I thought "overpaying for a penis pump" was sort of redundant.

[BainsBane]

8. Be sure to get accurate measurements

Especially for the space between the two penises. That bit is crucial.

I can't help thinking Senhor Testiculo could be of assistance here. He doesn't strike me as a guy with erectile problems.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. When I was in college I knew how to engineer one of these

Mad skills for the rest home, yo.

[BainsBane]

10. That is impressive.

I've always been a low-tech kinda gal. This was my version.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Indeed, I'm familiar with that design.

(I like that it's from "wikihow" ... how did we ever learn anything, before the internet?)

Throw in some crappy stem & seed laden Mex weed, and you've got my entire summer of 1984, right there.

[jmowreader]

12. They really need to do some comparison shopping

The government pays $364 for a penis pump.

The very finest penis pump they have at Adam & Eve is only $120.