House passes reconciliation with gender-affirming care funding ban

U S House Speaker Mike Johnson R-La Washington Blade photo by Michael Key The Republican-led U S House of Representatives on Thursday voted - for passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation package which includes provisions that would prohibit the use of federal funds to help gender-affirming care But for an th hour revision of the bill late Wednesday night by conservative lawmakers Medicaid and CHIP would have been restricted only from covering treatments and interventions administered to patients younger than The rule would also drop requirements that particular healthcare insurers must cover gender-affirming care as an essential wellness benefit and force states that as of now mandate such coverage to find it independently Plans could still offer coverage for transgender care but without the EHB classification patients will likely pay higher out of pocket costs To offset the cost of extending tax cuts from that disproportionately benefited the wealthiest Americans the reconciliation bill contains substantial cuts to spending for federal programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Campaign The Human Rights Campaign criticized House Republicans in a press release and report by the group s president Kelley Robinson People in this country want policies and solutions that make life better and expand access to the American Dream Instead anti-equality lawmakers voted to give handouts to billionaires built on the backs of hardworking people with devastating consequences for the LGBTQ society If the cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP or guidance like Planned Parenthood clinics weren t devastating enough House Republicans added a last minute provision that expands its attacks on access to best practice wellness care to transgender adults This cruel addition shows their priorities have never been about lowering costs or expanding soundness care access but in targeting people totally for who they are These lawmakers have abandoned their constituents and as they head back to their districts know this they will hear from us Senate Republicans are expected to pass the bill with the budget reconciliation process which would allow them to evade the filibuster and clear the spending package with a simple majority vote Changes are expected as the bill will be reviewed and amended by committees particularly the Finance Committee and then brought to the floor for debate though modifications are expected to focus on Medicaid reductions and debate over state and local tax deductions The post House passes reconciliation with gender-affirming care funding ban appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta