Medicare Won't Yet Decide Whether to Cover Gender Reassignment Surgery

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department reversed course Friday night after saying earlier that day that it would consider revising Medicare policy to cover medically necessary gender transition surgeries. Friday morning the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which runs the government's national insurance program, published an announcement on its website that it would be seeking public input on its reconsideration whether or not to cover gender reassignment surgery for people on Medicare, as The Advocate reported. But later that same day, HHS issued a contradictory statement, and the center withdrew its request for comment on the potential policy change.