Current:Home > InvestA new lawsuit is challenging Florida Medicaid's exclusion of transgender health care -Aspire Money Growth
A new lawsuit is challenging Florida Medicaid's exclusion of transgender health care
Johnathan Walker View
Date:2025-04-08 07:50:48
A new federal lawsuit has challenged the state of Florida's effort to exclude gender-affirming health care for transgender people from its state Medicaid program, calling the rule illegal, discriminatory and a "dangerous governmental action."
A coalition of legal groups filed the lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of four Florida Medicaid recipients, who are either transgender or parents of transgender youth, in the Northern District of Florida.
"This exclusion is discrimination, plain and simple," said Carl Charles, a senior attorney for Lambda Legal, a LGBTQ civil rights organization that is leading the lawsuit and has litigated similar issues around the country. "Transgender Medicaid beneficiaries deserve health care coverage free from discrimination, just like any other Medicaid beneficiary in Florida."
One of the lawsuit's four plaintiffs, a 20-year-old transgender man named Brit Rothstein, was pre-authorized by Florida's Medicaid program on Aug. 11 for a chest surgery that was scheduled for December, the complaint states.
The next day, the lawsuit says, Rothstein learned that Florida had decided to strip Medicaid coverage for the procedure.
Jade Ladue, another plaintiff, said she and her husband began seeking medical care for her son, who is identified in the lawsuit as K.F., after he came out as transgender at 7 years old.
K.F.'s doctor recommended puberty blockers, a common treatment for transgender youth that helps delay the effects of puberty, which he then received via an implant. Due to Ladue's limited family income, the lawsuit states, the costs were covered under Medicaid.
In the future, K.F. could need monthly shots that could cost more than $1,000 out of pocket, the lawsuit states. "For our family, it would be super stressful," Ladue said. "Potentially, if it's something we couldn't afford, we'd have to look to possibly moving out of state."
About 5 million Floridians — nearly a quarter of the state's residents — rely on the state's taxpayer-funded Medicaid program. More than half of the children in the state are covered by Medicaid, and most adult recipients are either low-income parents or people with disabilities.
For years, the program has covered the cost of gender-affirming health care for transgender people, including hormone prescriptions and surgeries. Advocacy groups estimate that 9,000 transgender people in Florida currently use Medicaid for their treatments.
In June, the state's Medicaid regulator, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, issued a report claiming that health care for gender dysphoria – the medical term for the feelings of unease caused by a mismatch between gender identity and sex as assigned at birth – is "experimental and investigational" and that studies showing a benefit to mental health are "very low quality and rely on unreliable methods." The state's report has been criticized by medical experts.
Then, last month, the agency implemented a new rule banning health care providers from billing the Medicaid program for such treatments for transgender patients. Those treatments are still covered for patients who are not transgender, the lawsuit says. (For example, cisgender children may be prescribed hormone blockers for a condition called "precocious puberty," in which the body begins puberty too early.)
The abrupt end to Medicaid coverage "will have immediate dire physical, emotional, and psychological consequences for transgender Medicaid beneficiaries," the complaint says. Challengers have asked for the rule to be permanently enjoined.
A handful of other states have similar exclusions. Lambda Legal has filed challenges in several, including Alaska and West Virginia, where a federal judge ruled in August that the state's Medicaid agency could not exclude transgender health care from coverage.
veryGood! (3861)
Related
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Stefon Diggs trade winners, losers and grades: How did Texans, Bills fare in major deal?
- Ole Miss women's basketball adds former Syracuse coach who resigned after investigation
- Courageous K-9 killed while protecting officer from MS-13 gang members during Virginia prison attack, officials say
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Trump Media sues former Apprentice contestants and Truth Social co-founders to strip them of shares
- Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's teen children Harlow and Sparrow make red carpet debut
- Mike Tyson says he's 'scared to death' ahead of fight vs. Jake Paul
- Average rate on 30
- Here’s Everything You Need To Build Your Dream Spring Capsule Wardrobe, According to a Shopping Editor
Ranking
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Lawsuit asks judge to disqualify ballot measure that seeks to repeal Alaska’s ranked voting system
- LSU star Angel Reese declares for WNBA draft
- Nick Cannon, Abby De La Rosa announce son Zillion, 2, diagnosed with autism
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Meghan McCain slams off-Broadway stage play about late dad John McCain: 'This is trash'
- Ford to delay production of new electric pickup and large SUV as US EV sales growth slows
- Score 80% off Peter Thomas Roth, Supergoop!, Fenty Beauty, Kiehl's, and More Daily Deals
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Gilmore Girls’ Matt Czuchry Responds to Criticism About His Character Logan
Monterrey fans chant 'Messi was afraid.' Latest on Lionel Messi after Champions Cup loss.
Prosecutors recommend at least 10 years in prison for parents of Michigan school shooter
Travis Hunter, the 2
Expecting a lawsuit, North Dakota lawmakers estimate $1 million to defend congressional age limit
Disney shareholders back CEO Iger, rebuff activist shareholders who wanted to shake up the company
LSU star Angel Reese declares for WNBA draft via Vogue photo shoot, says ‘I didn’t want to be basic’