Oregon drops Medicaid coverage for risky surgery except in cases of ‘gender affirmation’

In Oregon, Medicaid no longer covers high-risk surgery to remove excess skin from the lower abdomen unless it’s part of “gender-affirming care,” raising questions about whether gender ideology is actually harming those it purports to help.

The Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission agreed June 12 to exclude panniculectomy surgery from its list of covered medical expenditures, citing concerns about the high rate of complications, except when performed as part of “gender-affirmation surgery.”

“Panniculectomy Surgery to remove extra skin after significant weight loss (panniculectomy) comes with high risks, including serious problems and even death,” the commission’s Value Based Subcommittee said in its meeting materials. “Staff recommend adding the codes for this treatment to the gender affirmation surgery line only. In other cases, these surgeries should not be covered because the risks are so serious.”

Read the full story at The Washington Times.