Gender reassignment wait list 'of concern,' Wynne says
http://www.680news.com/2015/06/25/gender-reassignment-wait-list-of-concern-wynne-says/
680News
by The Canadian Press
Posted Jun 25, 2015 5:43 pm EDT
Premier Kathleen Wynne says the lengthy wait times transgender people in Ontario face for gender reassignment surgeries are "of concern."
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan does not cover gender reassignment surgeries unless the patient is referred by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, which can take months or years before patients are seen for initial appointments.
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And on the same day......
Ontario to expand access to publicly insured sex reassignment surgery
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/ontario-to-expand-approval-sites-for-publicly-insured-sex-reassignment-surgery/article25120580/?cmpid=rss1
KELLY GRANT - HEALTH REPORTER
The Globe and Mail
The Ontario government will expand the number of places where transgender people can obtain approvals for publicly insured sex reassignment surgeries, The Globe and Mail has learned.
A source close to Health Minister Eric Hoskins said Thursday that the Liberal government is reviewing regulations to determine the best way to increase access beyond Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH,) which is currently the lone site for pre-operative approvals – not just for Ontario but also for Newfoundland and Labrador and, until last year, Saskatchewan.
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Good to see the government stepping up and taking action.
I think it is important for trans activists to note to these news reports that gender ressignment for children is hormonal and not surgical. Otherwise there is a lot of flak about surgical reassignment of minors.
Although about 80% of adolescents go on to live as their preferred gender not all do. It is a very tricky area medically and is used negatively by people who do not understand transgender issues.