House Diverts Money for ED Drugs to Hurricane Relie

07 October, 2005

The House has voted to divert federal funds covering erectile dysfunction drugs to hurricane relief. The bill's sponsor said the government would save $690 million over five years by prohibiting Medicare and Medicaid health care programs from subsidizing prescriptions for sexual performance drugs.

The money will be used to provide $500 million in federal unemployment funds to hurricane-affected states to help them pay benefits to out-of-work people. The bill, passed by voice vote, also extends several health programs that assist low-income families nationwide.

The Senate has also approved legislation to end federal funding for such drugs. The House earlier this year approved a similar amendment to a spending bill covering health programs.

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