A local advocacy group is sounding the alarm as Louisianas Medicaid program has stopped covering gender-affirming care. The Trans Income Project said that the states health care program for people with low incomes has quietly stopped covering gender-affirming care. Related Nonbinary congressional candidate injects testosterone in powerful campaign ad They are challenging one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress in a year of unprecedented attacks on gender-affirming care. Instead of making this change through the legislative process, the state instilled its anti-trans agenda through obscure, extralegal bureaucratic maneuvers, the group said 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. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The Louisiana Department of Health isnt commenting on the matter.Medicaid is a joint state-federal health care program for people with low incomes who otherwise wouldnt be able to afford health care coverage. Medicaid provides health care for about 40% of children in the U.S. Most able-bodied adults of working age who are on Medicaid work either full or part time, and many of the others are disabled, students, or caregivers.The Williams Institute estimates that 12% of transgender adults use Medicaid for their health care coverage, more than the national average of 7% of people. Not all states Medicaid programs cover gender-affirming care. According to the Movement Advancement Project, 26 state Medicaid programs have policies that explicitly cover transgender healthcare. Ten states have no clear policy, and 14 deny such coverage for either trans youth or trans people of all ages. Louisiana passed a state law banning gender affirming care for transgender youth in 2023, with the states Republican legislature overriding the Democratic governors veto.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.