Medicare Overpays For Penis Pumps

The U.S. Medicare program has been overpaying for penis pumps. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday that Medicare paid $172 million between 2006 and 2011 on penis pumps for patients. Yearly claims for vacuum erection systems, also known as VES, during that period nearly doubled from $20.6 million annually to $38.6 million in 2011, according to a report from Reuters.