Article: LARGEST HMO SAYS NO TO COVERAGE FOR COSTLY DRUG VIAGRA.(News)

Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest health maintenance organization, said yesterday it will not pay for Viagra, the controversial new drug that treats male impotence.

The decision is likely to influence how HMOs across the country decide whether to provide coverage for Viagra, a problem that some HMO executives are calling ``Viagravation.''

Kaiser's decision made the 9.1 million-member health maintenance organization the latest insurer to refuse to cover the impotence pill. Earlier this week, Aetna U.S. Healthcare said it wouldn't pay for Viagra. Aetna, a health insurer, covers nearly 14 million people.

Since its debut in early April, ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!