Defending the family

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Trump Vote Impact? VA drops plans to cover surgery for transgender vets

The Hill reports

The Department of Veterans Affairs has dropped plans to start covering gender transition surgery for veterans amid concerns about costs.

The proposed rule change that would have allowed the VA to pay for such surgeries was withdrawn from the Fall 2016 Unified Agenda, a biannual publication of proposed regulation changes that was due Monday.

"VA has been and will continue to explore a regulatory change that would allow VA to perform gender alteration surgery and a change in the medical benefits package, when appropriated funding is available," the VA said in a statement Monday.

VA officials sent a letter dated Thursday to six members of Congress informing them of the decision. The lawmakers previously wrote a letter asking the VA to "move swiftly" on lifting the ban on payment for such operations.

Hat tip to Free Republic

For rest of article:

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/305926-va-drops-plans-to-cover-surgery-for-transgender-vets