LD 1040 Update
written by Emily Connelly
MaineTransNet is excited to have sponsored several important bills this legislative session, including LD 1040 / HP 676, An Act to Require Reimbursement for Gender-affirming Care for MaineCare Members. This bill protects Mainers’ rights to gender affirming health care under MaineCare — which has already been in place in our state since 2019! This legislation would protect those rights under statue, making sure that this care is provided for years to come. It prohibits any discrimination for reimbursement for medically necessary treatments based on a MaineCare member’s gender identity, gender expression, or because someone is transgender. Any medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria must be covered — which is already true in Maine!
According to data from the 2021 Maine Transgender Community Survey, 27% of trans Mainers are on MaineCare. Trans Mainers experience a poverty rate about twice that of the general population (25% vs. 12%), and membership in MaineCare is higher among those experiencing multiple marginalizations. Trans Mainers use this care, and they benefit from it, too — they not only rely on MaineCare for gender affirming care, but for overall health care as well. Ensuring that this care remains protected leads to better health outcomes for trans Mainers.
Since gender affirming care is already covered in Maine, you may be wondering why we need LD 1040/HP 676 in the first place. Passing this legislation would protect gender affirming care and prohibit discrimination for MaineCare users under statue. Gender affirming healthcare, which every major medical organization in the United States supports — is under attack. A coordinated, national campaign is targeting gender affirming care in minors and adults, with some states already criminalizing accessing or providing this care. This essential, evidence based, medically necessary, life saving and affirming care should not be subject to these attacks in Maine. Enshrining this care in Maine statues would protect gender affirming care for MaineCare users for years to come.
This legislation has successfully been voted out of committee, and is waiting for its final vote before the end of the legislative session this June. You can let your legislators know that you want trans Mainer’s health care protected here using this form!
https://www.mainetrans.net/protectmainecare
