Maryland Expands Medicaid Coverage for Gender-Affirming Treatments

metroweekly.com:

WYPR.There are currently estimated to be around 24,000 transgender individuals in Maryland, nearly one-quarter of whom are enrolled in Medicaid.In 2022, about 100 people received gender-affirming care through Medicaid.

The proposed bill is expected to increase that number by about 25 people per year.Maryland health officials say that if each of the estimated 125 people were to utilize every single new gender-affirming treatment under the bill — which is not possible, as some of those procedures or treatments contradict each other, it would increase Medicaid spending by $7.6 million, or 0.6% of the $11.7 billion Maryland spent on Medicaid expenditures in 2019.Opponents of the bill argue that the services that transgender patients can have covered by Medicaid are not provided for other Medicaid recipients.Additionally, cisgender Medicaid recipients aren’t eligible for coverage for services like dentures, home birth services, or treatment for eating disorders, reports Baltimore FOX affiliate WBFF.“It seems discriminatory to utilize Medicaid money for cosmetic surgeries and fertility services that aren’t offered to other people on Medicaid,” Del.

Kathy Szeliga (R-Perry Hall), argued.But proponents insist that procedures previously dismissed as “cosmetic” actually play an important role in alleviating and treating gender dysphoria that transgender patients experience.Del.

Kris Fair (D-Frederick), one of several co-sponsors and the chair of the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, argued that covering gender-affirming treatments can also help reduce feelings of depression and suicidal ideation that can accompany or be exacerbated by gender dysphoria. “Individuals who are trans and nonbinary are struggling because society.