Judge Rules State Ban On Medicaid Coverage Unconstitutional

(Des Moines, IA) A Polk County District Court judge has ruled the state’s ban on Medicaid coverage for transition-related surgery for transgender Iowans is unconstitutional.  Republican lawmakers changed the Iowa Civil Rights Act in 2019 to block transgender Iowans from having certain surgeries covered by publicly funded health insurance. The judge’s ruling says that law and a related Medicaid rule violate the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. Governor Kim Reynolds’ office says the governor is considering the next steps, which could include an appeal.