The Maryland House of Delegates passed a bill on Saturday that would expand the state’s Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming procedures for transgender, intersex, non-binary, two-spirit and all gender-diverse people.
Trans Health Equity ActHB0283, will play an important role in ensuring that low-income transgender Marylanders on Medicaid can have access to hormone therapy, puberty blockers, hair changes, surgery on the face and other body parts along with several other gender affirmation procedures. which is often covered by private insurance.
According to data from Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, 24,000 Maryland residents are transgender, and 6,000 are enrolled in Medicaid. By 2022, 98 transgender Marylanders have it gender-affirming care through Medicaid.
But the current state Medicaid program only include some gender-affirming procedures, including mental health services, hormone replacement therapy, and gender reassignment surgery for patients 18 and older who meet certain qualifications. Meanwhile, gender-affirming treatment is usually covered by private insurance.
The law, the same version that failed last year, graduated in the House final vote by count 93-37. During the committee meeting, several Democrats spoke about their support for the legislation, including Rep. Anne Kaiser who sponsored the bill.
“We have no representation in this House by anyone in the trans community. So me and, 59 co-sponsors, we are your voice. We are your representation,” Kaiser said.
He continued: “We know that what is being said nationally … about trans people is the same lie that was being said about gays and lesbians 20 years ago, and that’s part of the reason I feel passionately and connected to our trans brothers and sisters. -our neighbor, our community.”
House Republicans proposed an amendment to the bill on Friday that would prevent qualified individuals under the age of 18 from receiving gender-affirming treatment — a measure that represents a national attack about life-saving health care for transgender youth.
“This is not about health. This is about transitioning boys to girls and transitioning girls to boys,” said Delegate Mark Fisher, a Republican who proposed the amendment, according to Baltimore Bannerexpressed concern about minors receiving operations such as vaginectomies, mastectomies and penectomies.
But delegate Bonnie Cullison, a Democrat, insisted that “this is really about health.” Cullison countered Fisher’s argument by adding that surgery would only be given in extreme circumstances and if medically necessary and indicated for an individual’s health. The bill also states that all gender-affirming medical treatment will only be done after consultation between parents, patients and medical providers.
Fisher’s proposed amendment to bar minors from receiving gender-affirming treatment failed 90-37, according to the Baltimore Banner. A second Republican-backed amendment to prevent gender-affirming treatment for minors without parental consent failed in the House by 91-36.
The legislation will now go to the Senate and, if passed, will be sent to Governor Wes Moore, his predecessor expressed support for the legislation. Bill’s passage in the House arrives amid the 426 anti-LGBTQ legislation sweeping the nation, from bans on drag shows to restrictions on gender-affirming care.