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Victory for Plaintiffs as They Decline SCOTUS Review of NC Transgender Treatment Case

Supreme Court Appeal on Gender-Affirming Care Exclusion in North Carolina’s Health Plan

Plaintiffs are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to bypass a case challenging a North Carolina health plan’s exclusion of gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender individuals. This follows an April ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals siding with the plaintiffs against the North Carolina State Health Plan, overseen by State Treasurer Dale Folwell.

The appeal involves a similar situation in West Virginia, where both states provide health coverage but exclude necessary treatments for transgender patients that are available to others. Legal documents emphasize that denying such care can exacerbate mental health issues, including depression and suicidal tendencies, for transgender individuals suffering from gender dysphoria.

In response to the appeals from North Carolina and West Virginia, 24 states have filed a brief supporting the appeal to the Supreme Court. Folwell commented on the assistance from nearly half the states, stating that governance of health care should reside with state authorities rather than judicial bodies.

The 4th Circuit’s 8-6 ruling deemed the exclusion unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause, stating that it violated federal law by denying specific care based on patients’ gender identity. Missouri’s Attorney General Andrew Bailey led the coalition opposing this ruling, arguing that states should have the discretion to decide medical support in areas rife with uncertainties.

The ongoing legal contention raises critical questions over the rights of transgender patients and the responsibilities of state health plans, highlighting a significant conflict in judicial interpretations of health care equality and state authority. The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether to take up the matter, which poses immense implications for similar cases nationwide.

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Photo credit www.carolinajournal.com

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