Colorado Enacts Law Protecting Gender-Affirming Health Care Coverage

Multiple states are advancing or enacting legislation to protect gender-affirming health care access and providers amid ongoing political challenges. Colorado recently passed a law safeguarding insurance coverage for gender-affirming care and removing testosterone from prescription monitoring, aiming to protect trans individuals from discriminatory targeting. In Nevada, Senate Bill 171, which shields medical providers from disciplinary action for providing gender transition treatments including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, has passed through legislative committees and is awaiting a vote in the full Assembly; Governor Joe Lombardo's position on the bill remains uncertain. The bill also restricts Nevada from cooperating with out-of-state investigations unless compelled by court order, though it excludes protections for conversion therapy and care for minors without parental consent. Meanwhile, Connecticut passed legislation banning discrimination in long-term care facilities against LGBTQ+ residents and requiring cultural competency training, though some Republicans criticized the bill as politicizing discrimination policies. These legislative efforts reflect a broader push to protect transgender rights and health care access amidst a polarized national landscape.