New York Bans Insurers From Covering ‘Gay Conversion’ Therapy For Minors
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced that the state's Medicaid will not cover the treatment for residents of any age, calling the practice "fundamentally flawed."
The New York Times:
Cuomo Moves Against Therapy That Claims To Make Gay Children Straight
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York on Saturday announced a series of measures intended to eliminate so-called conversion therapy, a practice that claims the ability to reverse same-sex attraction in some people but that has been widely discredited by scientists. Mr. Cuomo’s plan relies on economic incentives. Insurers in New York, for instance, will now be prohibited from covering the cost of such therapy for anyone under 18. That action would be combined with a new regulation from the State Health Department that would prohibit the use of Medicaid to pay for conversion therapy. (McKinley, 2/6)
The Wall Street Journal:
New York Restricts Funding for ‘Gay Conversion’ Therapy
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is restricting funding for so-called conversion therapy, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation through psychological treatment. Under new regulations, announced by Mr. Cuomo over the weekend, the state will bar insurers from covering conversion therapy for minors and will ban Medicaid coverage of the therapy for residents of all ages. Mental-health centers licensed, funded or operated by the state’s Office of Mental Health will be prohibited from providing conversion therapy to residents under 18. Those that fund the treatment will put their license and/or funding at risk. (Ramey, 2/7)
Reuters:
New York Bans Insurance Coverage Of LGBT 'Conversion Therapy'
New York state will bar health insurance coverage of therapy aimed at changing the sexual or gender orientation of young people, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday, decrying the practice as "misguided" and "intolerant." Top U.S. health officials have long discredited so-called "conversion therapy," saying attempts to change lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth are unethical and often harmful. (Kearney, 2/6)
