The Department of Veterans Affairs will not move forward with covering gender-affirmation surgery for transgender veterans while it studies the effects of a sweeping law that expanded VA eligibility to millions of veterans, VA Secretary Denis McDonough confirmed Monday.
McDonough did not rule out proceeding with covering gender-affirmation surgery after the PACT Act analysis is done. But the move further delays the availability of a treatment that transgender veterans have been eagerly anticipating since McDonough first announced the VA would provide it two and a half years ago — a year before the PACT Act became law.
“We're not ready at this point to initiate rulemaking” to cover gender-affirmation surgeries, McDonough told reporters at his monthly press briefing. “VA has moved methodically … in its consideration of this important potential change in coverage because it must be implemented in a manner that's been thoroughly considered and ensures that the services made available to vets meet VA's rigorous standards for consistent, high-quality health care nationwide.”
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McDonough has said for months that the policy on gender-affirmation surgery was on his desk, but previously did not elaborate on what outstanding questions he had.
Now, McDonough is saying the PACT Act's expansion of VA eligibility to millions of veterans means…
