Transgender Louisianians enrolled in Medicaid are facing sudden denials of coverage for gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy and surgeries, after the Louisiana Department of Health made administrative changes to its billing and diagnosis codes. The denials began in August 2024, according to LDH records reviewed by Verite News, but the state agency has not publicly announced the policy shift or responded to requests for comment.
Unexpected Out-of-Pocket Costs
Transgender people across the state are learning about the coverage loss when they attempt to fill prescriptions at pharmacies. As trans activist and public policy analyst Corinne Green explained, “The only way a lot of people are learning about this is that they’re going into the pharmacy to pick up their monthly or once every three months…regular prescriptions that they’ve been on for a long time, and just getting hit with a completely unexpected bill.” Without Medicaid coverage, surgeries and medications can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Between 20% and 25% of transgender adults nationally are enrolled in Medicaid, according to recent estimates. Louisiana has the second highest share of Medicaid-enrolled residents among U.S. states, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, though specific figures for transgender Louisianians on Medicaid are not readily available.
Community Response and Limitations
In response to the coverage denials, the Trans Income Project—a New Orleans-based social services nonprofit—announced a partnership with CrescentCare clinic to cover hormone replacement therapy costs for Medicaid-eligible transgender adults. Participants must obtain medication from Avita Pharmacy locations at CrescentCare’s Elysian Fields and Mid-City facilities.
However, advocates acknowledge significant limitations to this solution. The partnership does not cover gender-affirming surgeries, and Peyton Rose Michelle, executive director of Louisiana Trans Advocates, called it “a band aid kind of solution that will only help a subset of people.” The Queer and Trans Community Action Project is organizing a protest Saturday at New Orleans City Hall to raise awareness about the policy change, with a march and rally beginning at 5 p.m.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://lailluminator.com/2025/08/22/transgender-medicaid/