Colorado has become the first state in the country to include transition-related care for transgender people as part of the requirements for essential healthcare in the state, The Washington Blade reported.
As part of the change, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the state's request to provide gender-affirming care in the individual and small group health insurance markets as part of Colorado's Essential Health Benefit benchmark.
Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra said in a statement the change is consistent with the Biden administration's goal of eliminating barriers faced by transgender people regarding access to healthcare, including transition-related coverage.
According to HHS, Colorado's plan will require insurers to cover a wider range of services for transgender people in addition to benefits already covered, such as eye and lid modifications, face tightening, facial bone remodeling for facial feminization, breast/chest construction and reductions, and laser hair removal.
According to the Washington Post, the Biden administration signed off on the change before officials made the announcement at an event with Gov, Jared Polis, the first openly gay man elected governor in the United States.