Florida transgender Medicaid ban unconstitutional, judge rules – By Kathryn Varn (Axios) / June 22, 2023
Florida’s bans on Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming health care amount to “invidious discrimination” and were politically motivated, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
Why it matters: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle declared the rules are unconstitutional and violate federal law. That means that all transgender Floridians who qualify for Medicaid should now be able to seek coverage of their gender-affirming care, plaintiff’s attorney Simone Chriss told Axios.
- Hinkle directed the state to resume coverage of hormone therapy and puberty blockers for the two adult and two minor plaintiffs in the case.
- For others seeking care, Medicaid coverage decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, Chriss said, as is the case with all health procedures.
- “Trans people are now subjected to the exact same rules as everyone else,” said Chriss, of the Florida-based nonprofit law firm Southern Legal Counsel.
CONTINUE > https://www.axios.com/2023/06/22/florida-transgender-medicaid-ban-ruled-unconstitutional
