HHS Rules Trans Woman Entitled to Surgery Under Medicare

[traci_k]

HHS Rules Trans Woman Entitled to Surgery Under Medicare

http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/1/31/hhs-rules-trans-woman-entitled-surgery-under-medicare

The Advocate.com
By Cleis Abeni
January 31 2016 11:41 AM EST

In a landmark decision, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has ruled for the first time that a transgender person is entitled to gender-confirming surgery under Medicare, according to a statement sent to The Advocate by the case's attorney, Ezra Young.

Young represents Charlene Lauderdale, a retired master sergeant in the Air Force, a purple heart recipient, and a trans woman who has waited years to receive the trans-affirming health care from the Veterans Administration through an HMO called United Healthcare/AARP Medicare Complete. The HMO now has the right to bring suit against HHS in federal trial court to contest the decision within 30 days. 
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I thought this had been settled, but apparently not, or maybe this decision is more far-reaching, but GRS is not experimental, it has been shown to be life-saving. The issue now is whether HHS will implement it's endorsement of trans-affirming healthcare for private insurers. Let's pray it does so.