Attorneys argue that U.S. v. Skrmetti, which concerns minors, does not affect Anderson v. Crouch—a case protecting transgender adults’ right to medically necessary care.
Today, attorneys from Lambda Legal appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to argue Anderson v. Crouch, our case challenging West Virginia’s discriminatory exclusion of gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults under the state’s Medicaid program.
On April 29, 2024, Lambda Legal secured a significant victory in Anderson v. Crouch, when the Fourth Circuit affirmed the trial court and ruled that denying medically necessary healthcare to transgender adults is unlawful. After the Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, which upheld restrictions on care for minors, the Supreme Court vacated Anderson and sent it back to the Fourth Circuit for reconsideration.
Lambda Legal argued that U.S. v. Skrmetti does not decide Anderson v. Crouch, as this case concerns adults and the scientific literature supporting the standard of care is authoritative and unchanged. The Fourth Circuit should reaffirm its decision protecting transgender adults’ right to equal access to healthcare.
“The Fourth Circuit’s decision in Anderson was right the first time and is right today. Our clients are adults who have been denied coverage for essential medical care solely because they are transgender,” said Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Senior Counsel at Lambda Legal. “The Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti dealt with a completely different law, distinct claims, and a different issue—restrictions on care for minors. Skrmetti should not affect the outcome in this case given that it has no application to the statutory claims at issue in this case. We are asking the Fourth Circuit to reaffirm its earlier ruling and ensure that transgender adults in West Virginia can access the healthcare they need.”
Lambda Legal remains steadfast in its commitment to defending transgender people’s access to healthcare and will continue advocating fiercely for their equality and dignity.
Read more about Anderson v. Crouch here: https://lambdalegal.org/case/fain-v-crouch/
Read more about U.S. v. Skrmetti here: https://lambdalegal.org/case/lw-v-skrmetti/