K_Z
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The state of Minnesota is facing a lawsuit over its healthcare policy involving gender reassignment surgery.
63-year-old Evan Thomas and gay rights advocacy group Outfront Minnesota have filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Human Services which oversees state health insurance plans.
The legislature passed a law back in 2005 that bans public health programs from covering the procedures.
"I want this statute to go away. So that people can access the care they need," said Thomas.
Thomas was born a woman but now identifies as a man, also known as gender dysphoria.
He attempted to have his breasts removed in April but was denied coverage of the procedure because his state-run insurance doesn't allow it.
For about 30 years, the state did cover the procedure before lawmakers changed that 10 years ago.
"It's a six word statute, sex reassignment surgery is not covered, and we believe that's an unconstitutional act by the legislature," said Phil Duran, an attorney with OutFront Minnesota.
http://www.kare11.com/story/news/lo...uit-over-transgender-surgery-policy/77608060/
http://kstp.com/news/stories/s3995708.shtml
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=256b.0625
Subd. 3a.Sex reassignment surgery. Sex reassignment surgery is not covered.
LGBT activists and a transgender man are suing the state of Minnesota. They want the public health insurance ban on gender reassignment surgeries to be overturned. Right now 10 states and the District of Columbia cover transition-related surgery in their public healthcare plans. In Minnesota only private health insurance plans cover these surgeries.
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare don't.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/minnesota-transgender-health_5674588de4b06fa6887d31a0
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/821141_6
http://news.yahoo.com/a-third-of-fo...-cover-transgender-health-care-142740785.html
http://obamacarefacts.com/questions/is-there-transgender-health-coverage/
I personally have no problem with transgender surgery and various therapies, but I draw a line at having it paid for by state tax funds. I think there are a lot of other avenues to pay for that type of elective surgery for those that desire it-- including moving to another state that covers it, or gaining employment in one of the companies that covers it under private insurance, or raising funds to pay for it personally.
As a health care professional, I personally don't view transgender surgeries as "medically necessary" at all, but as "highly desired" elective surgeries for "emotional and psychological well-being". That is a VERY wide category, IMO (desiring elective surgery for emotional and psychological well being) that could include lots of people with emotional and psychological desires, who want everything from tummy tucks, to vaginal tightening, to face lifts, to breast enhancement, etc. I think it's a slippery slope to trying to mandate coverage for more elective cosmetic surgeries, at a time when cost containment is critical.
The bigger issue is "medically necessary", and how that is defined, IMO. "Need" versus "want".
Elective surgery of all sorts should be safe and available, but not paid for by tax dollars, until we cover a whole bunch of other, "more" medically necessary things FIRST, IMO.
What do other posters think? Should people on state funded health care plans (medicaid) be provided with this kind of surgery on request?