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4mo ago

House Bill Restricting Gender-Affirming Care Coverage Advances to Senate

The legislation bans Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care and removes it as an essential health benefit under the ACA, sparking state-level responses and legal challenges.

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U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks to the media after the House narrowly passed a bill forwarding President Donald Trump's agenda at the U.S. Capitol on May 22, 2025, in Washington. The tax and spending legislation, called the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" Act, redirects money to the military and border security and includes cuts to Medicaid, education and other domestic programs. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty)
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Overview

  • The U.S. House passed a budget bill prohibiting Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender individuals of all ages and removing it as an essential health benefit under the ACA.
  • Illinois officials, including Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, criticized the measure and pledged to defend transgender rights and health care access.
  • Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed legislation requiring private insurers to cover gender-affirming care, codifying protections in response to federal restrictions.
  • Major medical organizations continue to endorse gender-affirming care as medically necessary and evidence-based, opposing the federal proposals as discriminatory and harmful.
  • Legal experts anticipate court challenges to the bill, citing potential violations of the ACA's anti-discrimination provisions and equal protection laws.