Medicare ends trans-exclusion!

NCTE reports that...

Today, an independent review panel in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ruled that Medicare cannot categorically exclude treatment for gender dysphoria, including transition-related care.

This decision eliminates the nationwide rule that transition-related surgeries cannot be covered by Medicare. Now, decisions on coverage for transition-related care, like hormone therapy or surgeries, will be made on the basis of individual medical need and clinical standards, not outdated prejudices.

Repealing this rule means Medicare will now treat transgender healthcare just as other healthcare procedures are treated under Medicare. It puts decisions about our healthcare back in the hands of doctors and patients rather than bureaucrats or insurance companies.

We congratulate our friends at the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights for the smart advocacy that won this victory.

The National Center for Transgender Equality will continue to advocate with our partners to make sure no insurance plan in the United States discriminates against the healthcare needs of transgender people.

Sincerely,
Harper Jean Tobin
Director of Policy
National Center for Transgender Equality

FACT SHEET ON MEDICARE COVERAGE OF TRANSITION-RELATED CARE

New Support Group for Partners of Trans-People

There is a new support group for partners of trans-persons.

The group will meet once a month at the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective at 1841 Broad St. in Hartford. The group will be initially co-facilitated by Marta (a spouse of a trans-person) and Jule (a clinical social worker who worker with trans-persons) until the group is functional as a peer support group.

For more information see their Facebook page or call Jule @ 860 916 5124 or email her at jhmichel@w4w.de

https://www.facebook.com/groups/270466939781216/

Help End Housing Discrimination in CT

 

For more information contact María Cuerda (remove the "X") or visit their website Fair Housing Center

UConn Healthcare Study

As many of you know CTAC has an annual conference at the UConn Health Center in Farmington and they asked us to help spread the word about a survey they are doing. Now is the chance to help them understand our needs...

Perceptions of Healthcare Practices: The LGBT Community study

It is being conducted through the University of Connecticut Health Center. The goal of the study is to learn more about the health concerns, expectations, experiences and healthcare seeking behaviors of the LGBT community. The results of this survey will be used to advocate for better health care access and quality for LGBT individuals.

You are invited to participate in this study if you are at least 18 years of age. Your participation is voluntary and all data will remain anonymous and confidential; your responses will not be linked to you in any way. If you choose to participate, please click the link below. While complete surveys will provide better data, you may skip questions that you do not feel comfortable answering. Your response to these questions should take about 15-20 minutes to complete. After completion, please click the “submit” button. Completion of this survey signifies your consent to participate in the study.

We truly appreciate your participation in this research study. For any questions regarding the study, please feel free to e-mail stbrown@uchc.edu

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGBTHealthcarePerceptions

Madicaid & Husky Insurance

We just received a report from someone who contacted the State Insurance Commissioner office that "They have no control over Medicaid and Husky state insurance."

Maine's Supreme Court Rules Trans-Students Must Be Treated As The Gender That They Identity As

In a landmark case Maine Supreme Court rules that trans-students must be fully integrated in to the schools including using the bathroom of their gender identity.

Breakthrough Ruling in Favor of Transgender Student
GLAD
January 30, 2014
Transgender Students Must Have Full Access to School Facilities, Says Maine High Court
Today, Maine’s highest court ruled that denying a transgender girl the use of the girls’ restroom at her school violated her rights under Maine’s Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against transgender people. The decision in GLAD’s lawsuit Doe v. Clenchy marks the first time a state court has ruled that transgender students must be allowed to use the bathrooms that match who they are.

The ruling stated in part, “[The school] agreed with Susan’s family and counselors that, for this purpose (as for virtually all others), Susan is a girl.  Based upon its determination that Susan is a girl, and in keeping with the information provided to the school by Susan’s family, her therapists, and experts in the field of transgender children, the school determined that Susan should use the girls’ bathroom.”

This will have far reach impact on Connecticut because our law is very similar to Maine's

New Form for Changing the Gender Marker on Your Driver License

We have just been informed by one of our readers that there is a new DMV form to change your gender on your driver's license (Just what we need more paperwork)...
GENDER DESIGNATION CHANGE FORM B-372