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���������� Note: This shift comes amidst a number of progressive decisions outlined by the Governor this week, most that were contributed to by the strong leadership of the state Department of Health. Gender therapy, hormone therapy, and reassignment surgery have been noted again and again as needs of our community members as I travel around our state and listen to priorities and concerns. Opposed to the comment offered by the Catholic League transcribed in the article below, transgender persons are actually at and often have that keep them from accessing appropriate and necessary healthcare. ���������� is excited to be partners and advocates in the many Medicaid transformations happening in NYS that can improve the lives of so many of our community members!

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Cuomo Unveils Regulations Providing Medicaid Coverage For Gender Reassignment��Surgery

CBS ����������; 12/17/2014

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo moved Wednesday to provide Medicaid��support for ��and gender reassignment surgery, among other����services, for��.

Continuing his legacy as an advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, Cuomo issued new state rules to have taxpayers pick up the tab for low-income ����������ers, CBS2’s Marcia Kramer reported.��Under the proposal, gender reassignment surgery will be available for people who are a minimum age of 18 or 21, depending on circumstances, and will require a referral from a doctor.

“���������� has always been a progressive leader and ensuring that all ����������ers —��regardless of gender identity —��are treated fairly will continue this legacy,” Cuomo said in a news release. “This new regulation will guarantee transgender ����������ers access to Medicaid-funded care, which is critical to safeguarding the principle of equal treatment. I am proud that the State is taking this step and continuing to����the fight on transgender rights.”

Before the funding for surgery will be made available, patients will have to have received hormone therapy, have lived as a member of the other gender for at least a year and have consulted with a mental health professional.

“Medical evidence supports gender reassignment surgery as a safe and effective treatment for gender dysphoria,” acting Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in the news release. “This modernization of our Medicaid payment coverage brings ���������� State in alignment with Medicare policy and ��the quality of life for ����������ers whose gender identity is not the gender with which they were born.”

There will be a 45-day public comment period on the proposed legislation.

“I think this is a critical step that the governor took,” said Councilman Corey Johnson, D-Manhattan,��a longtime activist for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

“This is not cosmetic in any way,” he added. “This is about their identity and getting health care that is meaningful and real for them.”

��say the needs of the transgender community are both physical and psychological.

“There’s absolutely a medical need to correct it��because these patients experiment tremendous upheaval,” said Dr. Daniel Yadegar, a Manhattan cardiologist.

State officials estimate it will cost $6.7 million to����for the medical services needed by transgender ����������ers.

Not everyone agrees with the expenditure.

“Medicaid is designed for the needy, for the dispossessed, for the destitute,” said Bill Donohue of the Catholic League. “It’s not meant for middle-class people and upper-middle-class people who don’t like the fact that they’re a����or woman. … This is an abuse of Medicaid.”

“They should be paying for it out of their own pocket,” said George Brown, of Midtown. “It’s not a responsibility for the state of ����������.”

Other������������ers, however, supported the move.

“I think it’s probably a good idea because why would you put yourself through that unless you really had to?”��said Sue Kort, of Midtown. “

California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Vermont and Washington D.C. also cover transgender health care through their Medicaid programs.

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