The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is being sued for allegedly unreasonably denying gender reassignment surgery under the state's Medicaid program, the Idaho Capital Sun reported Oct. 10.
The lawsuit alleges that department officials have "enforced a policy of unreasonably delaying and denying authorization" for gender dysphoria treatment, according to the report. The suit was filed on behalf of two transgender women who go by TB and MH in the documents and have requested their names be sealed in court records to protect them from harassment.
The suit alleges that 17 months have passed since MH requested coverage that her providers said is medically necessary, and the department has not provided a final decision or a hearing to challenge the denial or delay, according to the report.
The department allegedly told TB it considered her surgery cosmetic, despite her healthcare providers stating it was medically necessary, according to the report. TB has not been granted a hearing to appeal the denial.
A Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson told the news outlet it does not comment on pending or current litigation.