Maryland expands gender-affirming care covered by Medicaid

BALTIMORE -- Maryland has expanded to gender-affirming care that is covered by the state's Medicaid program, thanks to a bill passed last year. 

The Trans Health Equity Act, along with a slew of other new laws, went into effect on January 1. 

The state's Medicaid program previously limited gender-affirming care to procedures like mental health services, continuous hormone replacement therapy, and gender reassignment surgery.  

Renee Lau started transitioning about five years ago. She's grateful the journey got a little easier with some services she needs now being covered under Medicaid.

"I plan on having some surgeries and having consultations within the next two months. I would not believe the relief it is for me, because I never could have paid for [these services] out of pocket," she said.

The bill, passed on the last day of last year's legislative session, expands coverage to procedures like:

• hair alteration
• voice modification surgery and therapy
• facial surgery
• top surgery
• fertility preservation services. 

Revisions and reversals of prior treatments also would be covered under the new policy. 

Individuals need to be enrolled in Maryland Medicaid to be eligible for benefits and should speak with their healthcare provider to determine what services meet their needs.  

There are around 24,000 transgender adults in Maryland, according to research from UCLA's Williams Institute. Of those, around 6,000 are enrolled in Medicaid.

Authors of the Trans Health Equity Act found in a state analysis that the number of Medicaid enrollees seeking these services could increase by about 25 a year.

Ryan Moran, deputy secretary of Medicaid services with the Maryland Department of Health, said this expansion is a key step toward the state providing more inclusive health care.

"It's a huge step forward in our pursuit of health equity," Moran said. "It also will be essential in providing lifesaving care for individuals across the state of Maryland."

Lau knows how lifesaving it will be.

"It's an emotional relief," she said.

Last year, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order protecting gender-affirming health care in the state as more than 20 Republican-led states sought to limit transition care, particularly for minors. 

Learn more about Medicaid's gender-affirming care coverage here.