State adopts rule allowing Medicaid coverage for transgender minors
As of Wednesday, minors will be able to receive Medicaid coverage for transition-related transgender care, including hormone therapy that inhibits puberty.
The adoption of a proposed rule that makes Medicaid payment available for medically necessary hormone therapy and/or gender reassignment surgery to treat gender dysphoria will be published in Wednesday’s state Register (the rule begins on page five). It takes effect immediately.
Medicaid coverage will be allowed for anyone, not just those over 18 years old as previous regulations allowed, who seeks certain gender dysphoria treatment and meets a number of criteria.
To receive coverage for pubertal suppressants, the person must have reached the second of five “Tanner Stages” of puberty and have been declared eligible and ready for such treatment by a qualified doctor, among other criteria. To receive coverage for cross-sex hormones, a person must be 16 or older and meet similar criteria. According to the rule, those under 16 who otherwise meet requirements detailed to receive coverage for treatment with cross-sex hormones can receive payment for the treatment in specific cases if deemed medically necessary and prior approval is granted.
Read more: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/269955/state-adopts-rule-allowing-medicaid-coverage-for-transgender-minors/