It Didn't Last Long

The VA was looking for funds to cover Gender Confirming Surgery for veterans.

VA drops plans to cover surgery for transgender vets
The Hill
By Rebbecca Kheel
November 14, 2016

The Department of Veterans Affairs has dropped plans to start covering gender transition surgery for veterans amid concerns about costs.

The proposed rule change that would have allowed the VA to pay for such surgeries was withdrawn from the Fall 2016 Unified Agenda, a biannual publication of proposed regulation changes that was due Monday.

“VA has been and will continue to explore a regulatory change that would allow VA to perform gender alteration surgery and a change in the medical benefits package, when appropriated funding is available,” the VA said in a statement Monday.
[…]
In dropping its plan for the time being, the VA did not dispute the medical necessity of surgery.

“Increased understanding of both gender dysphoria and surgical techniques in this area has improved significantly and is now widely accepted as medically necessary treatment,” the VA said.

Putting the rule change on hold puts into question when and if it will happen in the future, given that Republicans opposed to the change will control the White House and Congress come January.

Sadly it doesn’t look good for our trans veterans, hopefully, Medicare with still cover medicinally necessary healthcare.