Westly: Stop Giving Viagra to Sex Offenders

tate Controller Steve Westly released figures from a preliminary review by his office that shows the drug Viagra has been provided to at least 50 registered sex offenders at the State’s expense.

This is alarming news,” Controller Westly said. “Of the 50 direct matches to the California Registered Sex Offender Database, the overwhelming number are rapists and child molesters.”

The review was for a 14-month period from March 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005. Auditors took a three-month sample during that same period, and found that Medi-Cal made payments to 4,300 beneficiaries for Viagra. Of that number, auditors found 50 exact matches in the Sex Offender Database.

Since this information only addresses a three-month sample period, the total number of California registered sex offenders who receive State-funded Viagra may be higher.

In an executive order issued last week, Governor Schwarzenegger directed “all applicable State agencies to immediately stop providing known sex offenders with taxpayer-funded medications such as Viagra…”

However, the governor’s executive order does not have the force of law. Megan's Law and how we use Medi-Cal dollars can only be changed by legislation. The State Controller says a bill could be passed precluding the use of Medi-Cal for Viagra for anyone found guilty of rape or child molestation.

I will ask the legislature to help us craft legislation to resolve this problem,” Controller Westly said. “This is a public safety issue. Providing Viagra to sex offenders is not a smart use of money.”