The Pentagon Spent Over 1/2 million dollars on Viagra

[planosteve]

The Department of Defense (DoD) spent more than a half a million dollars on the male enhancement drug Viagra last year, according to government contracts.

The Pentagon issued 60 contracts worth $504,816 for the drug in 2014. All 60 contracts were awarded to Cardinal Health Inc., a pharmaceutical distribution company based in Dublin, Ohio.

Last year DoD also ordered $3,505 worth of Levitra, and $14,540 of Cialis, other popular erectile dysfunction drugs.

The contracts were filed under “Troop Support.”

DoD began offering Viagra to soldiers as a medical benefit in 1998, when the drug cost $10 a pill. Due to inflation, one pill now costs $25. At the time the military’s policy only allowed for six pills a month per patient, and the DoD said they would “not replace lost or stolen pills.”

“Defense guidelines allow military physicians to prescribe Viagra only after a thorough evaluation indicates the medication as the optimal regimen for the patient,” a release outlining the Pentagon’s policy said. “Patients prescribed Viagra also receive careful guidelines for taking the medication. According to defense health officials, Viagra side effects may include headaches, flushing of the face or chest, indigestion, nasal congestion and mild vision impairment.”

“There’s also no guarantee Viagra will work,” DoD added.

Viagra is still covered by TRICARE, the military’s health insurance system, as well as “External vacuum appliances,” or penis pumps, “penile implants and testicular prostheses,” and hormone injections to treat Erectile Dysfunction.

According to a Washington Free Beacon analysis, at $25 a pill, the amount of Viagra purchased by the Pentagon could have led to up to 80,770 hours, 33 minutes, and 36 seconds of sexual enhancement, assuming that no erection lasted more than the medically advised 4 hour maximum.

http://freebeacon.com/issues/pentagon-spent-504816-on-viagra-last-year/

[tx3653]

A happy soldier is a better fighting soldier.

[crackertoes]

It also lowers temporary spikes in blood pressure when one is in duress.

[millergrovesue]

Doesn't bother me. I believe most every insurance plan in existence covers Viagra and the other drugs of that nature.

The government promised the troops "healthcare for life" in exchange for 20 (and more in some cases) years of service. They have reneged on that promise in many many ways.

I sure as hell am not going to begrudge our service folks and retired service folks an occasional orgasm. Heaven knows they have earned it and then some.

[crocmommy]

Shouldn't Viagra be pretty close to going generic? Wouldn't it get cheaper then?

[geeiabil]

Shouldn't Viagra be pretty close to going generic? Wouldn't it get cheaper then?

.
That was already supposed to be the case, but somehow Pfizer managed to get their patent renwed.

[crocmommy]

Shouldn't Viagra be pretty close to going generic? Wouldn't it get cheaper then?

.
That was already supposed to be the case, but somehow Pfizer managed to get their patent renwed.

Not that I have any reason to care, but wonder how that happened...

[Red Oak]

Pfizer played Hardball with them.

[millergrovesue]

Pfizer played Hardball with them.