1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The House spending bill provision banning Medicaid coverage for all transition-related care threatens health outcomes for over 152,000 transgender Americans reliant on Medicaid. Losing access to gender-affirming surgeries and hormones (which often costs tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket) could force many trans people into high risk situations. For example, some of these harmful situations include using untested treatments, heightened gender dysphoria, hate crimes, or traumatic medical detransition making them vulnerable to both physical and emotional violence. Removing gender affirming care jeopardizes the mental and physical wellbeing in both trans children and adults. These cuts to healthcare are only meant to eventually deny all Americans from accessing to healthcare, by targeting transition care services as the first healthcare services to be removed from Medicaid. Claims that cuts to gender affirming care was only meant to be for minors (the most vulnerable population with no means of self-advocacy) quickly escalat ed to denying gender affirming care to everyone. Protecting the youth is clearly not the motive behind denying transition related care. The ultimate motive is to make all Americans suffer and make richest people more rich starting by scapegoating one of the most vulnerable populations. This policy escalates attacks on trans people's rights after initial efforts targeted only minors, who can't vote. It disregards state coverage mandates and exacerbates healthcare barriers for an important marginalized group. It is clear that the final goal is to further divide Americans, pitting us against each other. Removing gender affirming care from Medicaid is a distraction from how HB1 will be used against all Americans. The ultimate motive is to make Americans on Medicaid suffer and continue allowing the richest people more rich, starting by scapegoating one of the most vulnerable populations which many Americans think will have no impact on our access to Medicaid. Immediate and vocal support for trans healthcare is crucial to remove this discriminatory provision that denies access to essential care crucial for survival. We expect our representatives to safeguard Medicaid for all and to advocate for the well being of our beloved transgender friends and family by supporting vital gender affirming care.