Policy: Gender Affirming Procedures for Gender Dysphoria
Policy Number: IV-123-007
Last Update: 2021-05-31
Issued in: Minnesota

Body Contouring:

The following procedures and criteria for coverage are addressed in separate medical policies:

• • Panniculectomy/Abdominoplasty 
  • Liposuction

Breast Reconstruction:

Breast Surgery

• Mastectomy and creation of a male chest in female-to-male members may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE when the criteria in section I are met.
  • NOTE:  Hormone therapy is not a prerequisite for mastectomy for female-to-male members. The Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People Version 7 from the WPATH state the following:  "Chest surgery in FtM (female-to-male) patients could be carried out (before age of majority) preferably after ample time of living in the affirmed gender identity and after one year of testosterone treatment. The intent of this suggested sequence is to give adolescents sufficient opportunity to experience and socially adjust in a more masculine gender identity, before undergoing irreversible surgery. However, different approaches may be more suitable, depending on an adolescent's specific clinical situation and goals for gender identity expression."
• Breast augmentation (e.g. implants/lipofilling) may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE in male-to-female members when criteria in section I are met.
  • NOTE:  Hormone therapy is not a prerequisite for breast augmentation for male-to-female members. The Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People Version 7 from the WPATH state the following:  "Although not an explicit criterion, it is recommended that MtF (male-to-female) patients undergo feminizing hormone therapy (minimum 12 months) prior to breast augmentation surgery. The purpose is to maximize breast growth in order to obtain better surgical (aesthetic) results."
• Documentation Requirements
  • One consultation letter must be provided to a health plan representative from a qualified mental health professional (as defined in section I). The letter must address ALL of the following:
    1. The member's gender identifying characteristics; and
    2. Results of the member's psychosocial assessment, including all diagnoses; and
    3. The duration of the mental health professional's relationship with the member including the type of evaluation and therapy or counseling to date; and
    4. An explanation that the criteria for surgery have been met, and a brief description of the clinical rationale for supporting the member's request for surgery; and
    5. The member has been informed that WPATH Standards of Care refer to breast/chest and genital surgical treatments as “irreversible,” and that reversal of breast/chest and genital surgical treatment are not eligible for coverage prior to providing informed consent for this surgery; and
       
    6. A statement about the fact that informed consent has been obtained from the patient; and
    7. A statement that the mental health professional is available for coordination of care and welcomes a phone call to establish this.

Facial Reconstruction:

The following procedures for the treatment of gender dysphoria may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE to create and maintain gender specific characteristics (masculinization or feminization) as part of the overall desired gender reassignment treatment plan when criteria in section I are met:

• • Electrolysis or laser treatment for facial hair removal;
  • Voice therapy;
  • Voice modification surgery when voice/speech therapy has been ineffective;
  • Reduction thyroid chondroplasty or trachea shaving (reduction of Adam’s apple);
  • Facial feminization or masculinization surgery on a case-by-case basis, including the following procedures: 
    • Hairline advancement; 
    • Forehead contouring/reconstruction; 
    • Implant augmentation/reduction of the forehead and brow; 
    • Blepharoplasty; 
    • Brow lift; 
    • Cheek augmentation with implants or autologous fat grafting; 
    • Rhinoplasty; 
    • Upper lip lift; 
    • Lip augmentation with tissue augmentation or fat graft; 
    • Implant augmentation/reduction of the mandible and chin; 
    • Neck lift; 
    • Face lift or liposuction (only as needed in conjunction with the above facial procedures).

Fertility Preservation:

Preservation of fertility is subject to the member’s contract benefits. This includes but is not limited to procurement, cryopreservation/freezing, storage/banking, and thawing of reproductive tissues, such as oocytes, ovaries, embryos, spermatozoa, and testicular tissue

Permanent Hair Removal:

• The following procedures for the treatment of gender dysphoria may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE to create and maintain gender specific characteristics (masculinization or feminization) as part of the overall desired gender reassignment treatment plan when criteria in section I are met:
  • Electrolysis or laser treatment for facial hair removal;

• Documentation Requirements:
  
  • One letter of recommendation from a qualified mental health professional (as defined in section I) has been obtained and includes ALL of the following:
    
    • The member’s general identifying characteristics; and
    • Results of the member’s psychosocial assessment, including any diagnoses; and
    • The duration of the mental health professional’s relationship with the member including the type of evaluation and therapy or counseling to date; and
    • An explanation that the criteria for surgery have been met, and a brief description of the clinical rationale for supporting the member’s request for surgery; and
    • A statement about the fact that informed consent has been obtained from the patient; and
    • A statement that the mental health professional is available for coordination of care and welcomes a phone call to establish this.
  • The letter must be presented to the health plan and to the surgeon prior to surgery. If the providers are working within a multidisciplinary specialty team, the letters may be sent only to the health plan with documentation of the information in the patient's chart.
  • For voice modification surgery, documentation from the treating speech therapy provider that speech therapy was tried and failed, and that voice modification surgery will provide further benefit.

Voice Therapy and Surgery:

• The following procedures for the treatment of gender dysphoria may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE to create and maintain gender specific characteristics (masculinization or feminization) as part of the overall desired gender reassignment treatment plan when criteria in section I are met:
  • Voice therapy;
  • Voice modification surgery when voice/speech therapy has been ineffective;

• Documentation Requirements:
  
  • One letter of recommendation from a qualified mental health professional (as defined in section I) has been obtained and includes ALL of the following:
    
    • The member’s general identifying characteristics; and
    • Results of the member’s psychosocial assessment, including any diagnoses; and
    • The duration of the mental health professional’s relationship with the member including the type of evaluation and therapy or counseling to date; and
    • An explanation that the criteria for surgery have been met, and a brief description of the clinical rationale for supporting the member’s request for surgery; and
    • A statement about the fact that informed consent has been obtained from the patient; and
    • A statement that the mental health professional is available for coordination of care and welcomes a phone call to establish this.
  • The letter must be presented to the health plan and to the surgeon prior to surgery. If the providers are working within a multidisciplinary specialty team, the letters may be sent only to the health plan with documentation of the information in the patient's chart.
  • For voice modification surgery, documentation from the treating speech therapy provider that speech therapy was tried and failed, and that voice modification surgery will provide further benefit.

Notes:

Treatment of gender dysphoria may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE when ALL of the following diagnostic criteria are met in addition to criteria for specific procedures listed in sections II, III, IV, and V:

• A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation has been completed by a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, or other licensed mental health professional who
  • Is experienced in the evaluation and treatment of gender dysphoria; and
  • Has competence in the diagnosis of gender nonconforming identities and expressions, as well as in diagnosing possible comorbid disorders such as mood disorders, personality disorders, and substance related disorders; and
  • Has the ability to recognize and diagnose co-existing mental health concerns and to distinguish these from gender dysphoria; and
  • Meets the Minnesota Department of Human Services qualifications for a mental health professional, as set forth in Minn.Stat.245.4871, subds. 26 and 27 (2017) and Minn.Stat.245.462, subds. 17 and 18. Providers outside Minnesota must be appropriately licensed according to applicable state law; 
• AND
• Based on the comprehensive evaluation, the individual meets the diagnostic criteria for gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM 5).
  • A marked incongruence between one's experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, of at least 6 months' duration as manifested by at least two of the following:
    1. A marked incongruence between one's experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.
    2. A strong desire to be rid of one's primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one's experienced/expressed gender.
    3. A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender.
    4. A strong desire to be the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender). [Note: Alternative gender includes non-binary gender]
    5. A strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender). [Note: Alternative gender includes non-binary gender]
    6. A strong  conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender). [Note: Alternative gender includes non-binary gender]
• AND
• Age requirements 
  • For breast surgery (see policy section II for additional requirements), one of the following:
    1. The member is at least 18 years of age; OR
    2. Members < 18 years of age will be considered on a case-by-case basis with evidence of BOTH of the following: 
       • The member has been assessed for any co-existing mental health conditions; AND 
       • The member has been living in the affirmed gender identity for at least one year. 
  • For genital surgery (see policy section III for additional requirements), the member must be at least 18 years of age. 
  • For secondary sex characteristics procedures (see policy section V for additional requirements), the member must be at least 18 years of age. 
    
• AND
• Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to give consent to treatment; AND
• If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be reasonably well-controlled as confirmed by a qualified mental health professional (as defined above).