Politics - Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Transgender Care Access | Revry

In a pivotal decision that will likely be reviewed by the US Supreme Court, the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond has struck down policies from North Carolina and West Virginia that denied insurance coverage for gender-affirming medical treatments. By a vote of 8 to 6, the court ruled that these exclusions constituted discrimination based on sex and gender identity. North Carolina's state employee health plan's ban on gender-affirming care and West Virginia's Medicaid program's ban on gender-affirming surgeries were both impacted by the ruling. Officials from both states have announced intentions to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The case marks a significant moment in the ongoing battle for transgender healthcare rights, with implications for how gender identity is treated under the law and the accessibility of medical treatment for transgender individuals across the United States.