These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Variability in Medicaid Coverage for Gender-affirming Surgeries Across U.S. States.
    Author: Wu CA, Ho I, Minasian A, Keuroghlian AS, O'Brien-Coon D, Ranganathan K.
    Journal: Ann Surg; 2024 Mar 01; 279(3):542-548. PubMed ID: 37395609.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To describe the current Medicaid coverage landscape for gender-affirming surgery across the United States at the procedure level and identify factors associated with coverage. BACKGROUND: Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming surgery differs by state, despite a federal ban on gender identity-based discrimination in health insurance. States that cover gender-affirming surgery also differ in which procedures are included in Medicaid coverage, leading to confusion among patients and clinicians. METHODS: State Medicaid policies in 2021 for gender-affirming surgery were queried for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.). State partisanship, state-level Medicaid protections, and coverage of gender-affirming procedures in 2021 were recorded. The linear correlation between electorate partisanship and total procedures covered was assessed. Pairwise t tests were used to compare coverage based on state partisanship and the presence or absence of state-level Medicaid protections. RESULTS: Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming surgery was covered in 30 states and Washington, D.C. The most commonly covered procedures were genital surgeries and mastectomy (n = 31), followed by breast augmentation (n = 21), facial feminization (n = 12), and voice modification surgery (n = 4). More procedures were covered in Democrat-controlled or leaning states, as well as in states with explicit protections for gender-affirming care in Medicaid coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming surgery is patchwork across the United States and is especially poor for facial and voice surgeries. Our study provides a convenient reference for patients and surgeons detailing which gender-affirming surgical procedures are covered by Medicaid within each state.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]