Iowa Bans Medicaid Coverage for Gender-Affirming Care

Beginning July 1, Iowa Medicaid will no longer cover hormone therapies or gender-affirming surgeries, reports the WQAD8. This follows years of legal disputes, including a 2019 Iowa Supreme Court decision striking down a similar policy and a later law that was blocked in court. Earlier this year, lawmakers removed gender identity from Iowa’s Civil Rights Act, paving the way for a renewed ban. Legal challenges to the law are expected.