SB331: prohibiting Medicaid from paying for sex reassignment drug or hormone therapy or surgery.

SB 331 - AS INTRODUCED

2018 SESSION

18-2938

01/05

SENATE BILL 331

AN ACT prohibiting Medicaid from paying for sex reassignment drug or hormone therapy or surgery.

SPONSORS: Sen. Daniels, Dist 11; Rep. Weyler, Rock. 13

COMMITTEE: Finance

ANALYSIS

This bill provides that sex reassignment drug or hormone therapy or surgery shall not be covered under the state Medicaid plan.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2938

01/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

AN ACT prohibiting Medicaid from paying for sex reassignment drug or hormone therapy or surgery.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Findings. The general court hereby finds:

I. That citizens living under the 138 percent of federal poverty level have greater medical needs than elective cosmetic surgery and that the state of New Hampshire should prioritize critical care costs over elective cosmetic surgeries for this population.

II. Extending coverage for these additional elective cosmetic surgeries will dramatically increase the costs of the program for the taxpayers weakening the financial stability of the program.

III. Neither drug or hormone therapy, nor surgery are able to impart the reproductive function of the objective sex, resulting in permanent sterility, possibly violating the Hippocratic oath.

IV. Public funding for such procedures may violate the Constitution of the State of New Hampshire regarding rights of conscience and religious liberty.

V. The narrow approval of the proposed rule allowing Medicaid provision of these procedures underscores the necessity of public debate and general approval or disapproval of public funding by the general court.

2 New Section; Sex Reassignment Surgery Excluded from Coverage Under State Medicaid Plan. Amend RSA 167 by inserting after section 3-k the following new section:

167:3-l State Medicaid Plan; Sex Reassignment Excluded. Medical assistance provided under the state Medicaid plan shall not include sex reassignment drug or hormone therapy or surgery.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.