A Maryland bill expanding Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming treatments has been sent to Gov. Wes Moore, who is expected to sign it into law, The Daily Record reported March 30.
Maryland's Medicaid program currently covers some gender-affirming treatments for people 18 and older who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to the report. Those services include hormone replacement therapy, gender reassignment surgery and post-transition services.
Under the bill, Medicaid would also cover processes for people changing their hair, voice, certain physical features, fertility preservation services and the reversal of prior treatments.
The new treatments included in the legislation can range from less than $800 for voice therapy to more than $25,000 for some surgeries and procedures, according to the report.
About one-fourth of Maryland's 24,000 transgender adults were enrolled in Medicaid in 2022, according to the report. Fewer than 100 people received gender-affirming treatments through Medicaid last year.
The Maryland Department of Health said that, if signed into law, the number of people enrolled in Medicaid seeking gender-affirming treatment will increase by 25 each year, according to the report.