A new audit revealed the US Medicare program illegally spent more than $3 million in 2007 and 2008 on Viagra and other similar drugs for senior citizens.
The use of such funds on Viagra and similar medications was banned in a 2005 under changes to the law which govern the program. Medicare is blaming a computer glitch for the errors and plan to attempt to recover payments made to private insurers.
In addition to the Viagra purchases, Medicare paid an undisclosed amount for erectile dysfunction medications in 2009 and 2010.
“Medicare should not have covered these drugs,” wrote George Reeb, the acting deputy inspector general for audit services at the US Department of Health and Human Services in the report.
Medicare said it would be fixing the issue by updating their computer databases to include prohibited drugs.
The audit has further made it clear it is not the responsibility of the American tax payer to assist seniors in jump-starting their libidos.