I recently sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah urging them to repeal a state regulation banning Medicaid coverage of transgender-related health services. The regulation, which dates from the late 1990s, effectively denies low-income transgender New Yorkers access to vital transition-related health care. California has permitted Medicaid coverage for transgender health care and services since 2001 and five states, including Connecticut, now require health insurance providers to cover treatments related to gender transition. Transgender people receiving Medicaid deserve the same access to essential care as all other eligible New Yorkers. It’s long past time New York lifted this damaging, discriminatory regulation. Please see my letter attached.