On June 18, 2024, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1151, which sought to mandate insurance coverage for gender detransition procedures. The bill stipulated that if insurers cover gender transition procedures, they must also cover detransition procedures.
Additionally, it required healthcare providers performing transition procedures to offer or pay for detransition services. Proponents argued the bill would protect individuals seeking reparative care after transitioning, while critics, including Governor Hobbs, raised concerns about its necessity and potential privacy risks.
Details of Senate Bill 1151
Senate Bill 1151, introduced in the Fifty-sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session, 2024, aimed to amend Title 20, Chapter 2, Article 1 of the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding Section 20-243. The bill included several key provisions:
Insurance Coverage: From January 1, 2025, health insurers providing coverage for gender transition procedures would be prohibited from denying coverage for gender detransition procedures.
Provider Responsibility: Healthcare providers performing gender transition procedures would be required to also provide or finance detransition procedures.
Reporting Requirements: Health insurers would need to report detransition claims data monthly to the state, ensuring patient privacy by excluding identifying information.
State Agency Compliance: State agencies would be tasked with expediting the process for updating official documents for individuals undergoing detransition.
Governor Hobbs’ Statement
Governor Hobbs justified her veto by stating, “This bill is unnecessary and could potentially infringe on patient privacy.” She emphasized the potential risks and lack of necessity as primary reasons for her decision. Proponents of the bill, such as State Sen. Janae Shamp, argued it was crucial for protecting those needing reparative care post-transition.