GOP gov. defies party & signs bill mandating insurers cover gender-affirming care

In a break with his party, Nevada’s Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo has signed a bill requiring all insurance companies and Medicaid to cover gender-affirming care, including surgery, for both kids and adults.

The law also bans insurance companies “from engaging in certain discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression.” There are no religious exemptions for businesses or healthcare providers. All employers are required to adhere to the Standards of Care from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

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According to The Nevada Globe, the bill passed along party lines without a single Republican voting in its favor. Some believe Lombardo signed the bill in hopes it would sway Democrats to support funding for the construction of a new major league baseball stadium on the Las Vegas Strip for the A’s, who are planning a move to the city from Oakland, California.

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Kudos to the gov for signing this. He will take heat from the know-nothings who run the GOP and sit on the RNC from NV. But right thing to do.

He is signing bills now and that may help him get Dem votes for the A's.

There may be fewer hours left in special than A's have wins… https://t.co/prxUFGW58t

— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) June 13, 2023

And it seems members of his party are not happy.

“I would argue that this is much, much worse than what Sandoval did to Republicans and Nevadans in 2015 when he passed the largest tax increase in state history,” said an anonymous source the Globe described as “associated with the Nevada legislature.” “Lombardo’s signing of S.B. 163 hits us on the spiritual level, there is no spreadsheet to justify this. If the governor’s team argues this was done in exchange for a baseball team, he will only add insult to the injury he dealt his supporters today.”

Lombardo has not published a press release about signing the bill nor has he tweeted about it. But he told reporters that all the bill does is mandate the insurance industry to continue following existing state policy.

“I implore people to read the bill in its entirety and you will see it is not as draconian or detrimental or immoral as people are portraying it to be,” he said. “It’s for the benefit of the whole versus the few.”

We asked Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) why he signed SB163, which requires health insurers to cover gender-affirming care.

"I implore people to read the bill … it's not as draconian or detrimental or immoral as people are portraying it to be."

Full story: https://t.co/yk0R3Itr8Y pic.twitter.com/Z3Zpj7JfFm

— Ben Margiott (@BenMargiott) June 13, 2023

Nevertheless, LGBTQ+ advocates are celebrating.

“Absolutely huge!” wrote trans activist Alejandra Caraballo. “Nevada Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has signed a bill expanding coverage for gender-affirming care. This will guarantee access to care and remove exclusions.”

Absolutely huge! Nevada Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has signed a bill expanding coverage for gender affirming care. This will guarantee access to care and remove exclusions. https://t.co/pkO100MKXg pic.twitter.com/VXFNaddAqg

— Alejandra Caraballo 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇷 (@Esqueer_) June 13, 2023

Bisexual state Sen. Melanie Scheible (D) thanked Lombardo on Twitter, writing that “Today Nevada solidifies its ranking as the BEST place to live as an openly LGBTQ person, as #SB163 was signed into law. NO INSURANCE COMPANY can deny medically necessary coverage to trans people here!”

Today Nevada solidifies its ranking as the BEST place to live as an openly LGBTQ person, as #SB163 was signed into law. NO INSURANCE COMPANY can deny medically necessary coverage to trans people here!
w/ @DallasHarrisNV @Senatorspearman @CeceliaGNV @NVSenateDems
1/2 pic.twitter.com/hDuahJ5iAt

— Melanie Scheible (@MelanieScheible) June 13, 2023

Indeed, a 2020 report from USA Today named Nevada as the best state in America for LGBTQ+ people, citing its slate of legal protections for LGBTQ+ people and families, as well as its low rate of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes. The report said Nevada passed 34 laws to protect LGBTQ+ people between 2009 and 2019 and has no laws that deny LGBTQ+ people rights. Not surprisingly, it also has one of the highest percentages of LGBTQ+ people in the country.