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Louisiana Medicaid quietly stops reimbursing patients for gender-related prescriptions 

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lailluminator.com – Piper Hutchinson – 2025-07-09 05:00:00


Transgender Louisianians will no longer receive Medicaid reimbursement for gender-affirming care prescriptions if providers use certain gender-related diagnosis codes, according to LGBTQ+ groups. The Trans Income Project criticized the state for implementing this through bureaucratic means rather than legislation, causing many to lose coverage and face unexpected costs. Gender-affirming care includes medical treatments aligning physical bodies with gender identity. Although Louisiana banned such care for transgender youth in 2023, it remains legal for adults. Approximately 15,700 transgender adults live in Louisiana, and the Trans Income Project offers assistance to those struggling with prescription costs.

by Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator
July 9, 2025

Transgender Louisianians will no longer receive Medicaid reimbursement for any gender-affirming care prescriptions if their provider uses certain gender-related diagnosis codes, according to multiple LGBTQ+ organizations. 

“Instead of making this change through the legislative process, the state instilled its anti-trans agenda through obscure, extralegal bureaucratic maneuvers,” the advocacy organization Trans Income Project wrote in a statement to the Illuminator. “Now, thousands of Louisianans are losing coverage for trans medicine and incurring unexpected out-of-pocket costs when attempting to pick up their regular prescriptions.” 

Gender-affirming care is a catch-all term for medical treatments given to people to align their physical bodies with their identified gender. Such care is administered to transgender people, who identify as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth, as well as cisgender people, who identify as their assigned sex.

The Louisiana Department of Health did not respond to emailed questions asking why the policy has been put in place. 

The Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA School of Law that researches sexual orientation and gender identity law, estimates LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to take part in the Medicaid program. 

Louisiana banned gender-affirming health care for transgender youth in 2023, but the treatments remain legal for transgender adults. 

The Williams Institute estimates about 15,700 transgender adults live in Louisiana

The Trans Income Project encourages individuals worried about paying for their prescriptions to reach out to the organization for assistance.

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Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

The post Louisiana Medicaid quietly stops reimbursing patients for gender-related prescriptions  appeared first on lailluminator.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This content focuses on the negative impact of a Louisiana policy restricting Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care, highlighting criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and presenting data supporting the challenges faced by transgender individuals. It emphasizes the bureaucratic nature of the policy’s implementation and frames it as an “anti-trans agenda,” reflecting a perspective that aligns with progressive, pro-LGBTQ+ rights views typical of center-left political leanings.

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Ozzy Osbourne dies 'surrounded by love,' weeks after farewell show, family says

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wgno.com – Addy Bink – 2025-07-22 13:23:00

SUMMARY: Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, 76, has died, surrounded by family who requested privacy. Osbourne announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020 and ended touring in 2023 due to spine injuries. Earlier this year, he reunited with Black Sabbath for a final show in Birmingham, his hometown. Osbourne co-founded the influential metal band Black Sabbath in 1968 and was known for his wild antics and groundbreaking music. He gained further fame through the MTV reality show “The Osbournes” and Ozzfest. His recent albums featured collaborations with major artists, earning Grammy nods. He is survived by wife Sharon and four children.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Coca-Cola confirms a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola is coming to the US

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wgno.com – DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press – 2025-07-22 10:35:00

SUMMARY: Coca-Cola will introduce a cane-sugar version of its flagship cola in the U.S. this fall, responding to consumer interest and confirming President Trump’s recent announcement. CEO James Quincey highlighted the company’s use of various sweeteners and ongoing innovation, noting cane sugar is already used in some Coca-Cola products and Mexican Coke. While global case volumes fell 1%, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar grew 14%. Despite challenges like weaker demand in parts of Asia and a social media controversy affecting Hispanic sales, Coca-Cola reported stronger-than-expected Q2 earnings, with net income up 58% and full-year adjusted earnings growth now expected at 8%.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Louisiana lawmakers decline to hold veto override session

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lailluminator.com – Julie O’Donoghue – 2025-07-22 05:30:00


On April 14, 2025, Governor Jeff Landry addressed the Louisiana Legislature at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. The legislature declined to hold a rare veto override session after Landry vetoed 15 bills and cut parts of three budget proposals, covering issues from dietician regulations to banning outdoor balloon releases. Override sessions, uncommon in Louisiana with only three in 50 years, occurred recently during a politically divided period under Democrat John Bel Edwards and GOP legislative control. Currently, with Landry and legislative leaders all Republicans, lawmakers are less likely to challenge the governor’s vetoes, leading to the decision against reconvening.

by Julie O’Donoghue, Louisiana Illuminator
July 22, 2025

The Louisiana Legislature has declined to reconvene for a veto override session this year. 

The majority of lawmakers – 87 members of the House of Representatives and 29 in the Senate – voted not to hold a special session in which lawmakers try to overturn Gov. Jeff Landry’s rejection of bills.

In all, the governor vetoed 15 pieces of the legislation and removed portions of three budget proposals that legislators could have voted to reinstate. The legislation Landry rejected dealt with matters ranging from new registered dietician regulations to a prohibition on outdoor balloon releases. 

Veto override sessions are extremely rare in Louisiana. There have been just three in the past 50 years, and they all took place from 2021-23. 

At the time, state government was politically divided with Democrat John Bel Edwards as governor and Republicans controlling the two legislative chambers. Edwards and the GOP legislative leadership were at odds over topics such as transgender rights and political redistricting.

Landry and legislative leaders are all Republicans, making it much less likely lawmakers would openly buck the governor to overturn one of his decisions. 

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Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

The post Louisiana lawmakers decline to hold veto override session appeared first on lailluminator.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents a straightforward report on the Louisiana Legislature’s decision not to reconvene for a veto override session following Gov. Jeff Landry’s vetoes. It provides factual context about the rarity of such sessions and the political dynamics involved, noting the unified Republican control of both the governorship and legislature. The language is neutral, focusing on legislative procedure and political composition without endorsing any particular viewpoint or framing the governor’s actions in a positive or negative light. Overall, the content maintains balanced reporting without discernible ideological bias.

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