WILLIAM M. CONLEY, District Judge.
As a group, transgender individuals have been subjected to harassment and discrimination in virtually every aspect of their lives, including in housing, employment, education, and health care. Their own families, acquaintances and larger communities can be sources of harassment. For some transgender individuals, though certainly not all, the dissonance between their gender identity and their natally assigned sex can manifest itself in the form of "gender dysphoria," a serious medical condition recognized by both sides' experts and the larger medical community as a whole. Plaintiffs Cody Flack and Sara Ann Makenzie both have long-term gender dysphoria for which they have received previous treatments covered by Wisconsin Medicaid, including hormone therapy. However, Wisconsin Medicaid categorically denies coverage for medically-prescribed "[t]ranssexual surgery" and related drugs. Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 107.03(23)-(24). Plaintiffs filed suit challenging this exclusion under the Equal Protection Clause and the Affordable Care Act, and seek to preliminarily enjoin defendants from enforcing this exclusion against their requests for insurance coverage (dkt. # 40). The court held oral argument on plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction on July 19, 2018.
As discussed below, plaintiffs have established a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their ACA claim, as well as more than a negligible chance of prevailing on the merits of their equal protection claim. Moreover, the immediate consequence for both individuals is the effective denial of medical procedures that: (1) meet the prevailing standard of care; and (2) are specifically prescribed by their treatment providers to avoid further psychological harm caused by gender dysphoria. Accordingly, despite defendants' repeated assertions to the contrary, plaintiffs have established a material risk of irreparable harm and a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits. The court will, therefore, grant plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
Every person has a "gender identity." For most people, their gender identity
Gender dysphoria is a serious medical condition, which if left untreated or inadequately treated can cause adverse symptoms. The DSM-5 contains the psychiatric consensus as to the definition, diagnostic criteria and features for gender dysphoria.
(DSM-5 Excerpt (dkt. # 21-1) 5.)
Gender dysphoria can be alleviated through living consistently with one's gender identity, including being treated by others accordingly.
Before gender-confirming surgery, those with gender dysphoria "are at increased risk for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicides." (DSM-5 Excerpt (dkt. # 21-1) 8.) Defendant contends that even after surgery, gender dysphoria may still result in suicide, self-harm, or serious psychological distress. (See Mayer Dep. (dkt. # 55-3) 54:18-20.) The parties agree that gender-confirming surgical procedures are not necessary to alleviate gender dysphoria for all transgender people. Plaintiffs, on the other hand, contend that surgery is the only effective treatment for many transgender people and that gender-confirming surgical procedures are "safe and effective treatments." (Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 20) ¶¶ 18-19.) Defendants respond that "[t]here is inadequate evidence to conclude that surgical treatments are of proven medical value or usefulness for treating gender dysphoria." (See e.g., Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶¶ 15, 18-19.)
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program to provide medical assistance to eligible low-income individuals; it was established in 1965 under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Through Medicaid, the federal government generally reimburses a substantial portion of a state's expenditures to provide medical services to people whose resources and incomes are insufficient to afford necessary medical services.
Like all its sister states, Wisconsin participates in Medicaid. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services ("DHS") is the state agency charged with administering the Wisconsin Medicaid Program consistent with state and federal requirements. DHS receives federal funding for the program, including reimbursement of over half of the state's Medicaid expenditures from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Defendant Linda Seemeyer is the DHS Secretary and she is responsible for implementing the Medicaid Act consistent with federal requirements. Wisconsin Medicaid provides coverage for "[p]hysician services," including "any medically necessary diagnostic, preventative, therapeutic, rehabilitative or palliative services. . . within the scope of the practice of medicine and surgery" that are "in conformity with generally accepted good medical practice" and provided by a physician or under one's direct supervision, unless otherwise excluded. See Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 107.06(1); see also id. § 107.08(1)(a)-(b) (providing coverage for hospital inpatient and outpatient services that "are medically necessary" and provided under a doctor's direction). Wisconsin Medicaid has a budget of approximately $9.7 billion to provide for its roughly 1.2 million enrollees. Approximately 5,000 of those enrollees are transgender, and some
In addition to the requirements of federal law, defendants' administration of Wisconsin Medicaid is governed by Wisconsin Statutes §§ 49.43-.65 and Wisconsin Administrative Code §§ DHS 101.01-.36. Included in the governing regulations is the "Challenged Exclusion," § 107.03(23)-(24), at issue in this case. The Challenged Exclusion provides that "The following services are not covered under MA: . . . (23) Drugs, including hormone therapy, associated with transsexual surgery or medically unnecessary alteration of sexual anatomy or characteristics; [and] (24) Transsexual surgery." Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 107.03(23)-(24).
At the time of its adoption, DHS found these services were "medically unnecessary." (Clearinghouse Rule 96-154 (dkt. # 21-12) 2, 3.) Other coverage exclusions created by the 1996 amendments included "non-medical food," "ear lobe repair," "tattoo removal," and "services related to surrogate parenting." (Id. at 3.) The parties disagree about whether potential cost savings motivated these exclusions (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 45), although the fiscal estimate noted that "[t]he rule changes are expected to result in nominal savings for state government" (Fiscal Estimate (dkt. # 21-14) 2).
DHS's website includes the following notice:
LGBT Health-Transgender Persons, Wis. Dept. Health Servs. (Dec. 13, 2017), https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lgbthealth/transgender.htm. Plaintiffs contend that "Wisconsin Medicaid covers the same services when medically necessary to treat conditions other than gender dysphoria," and defendants agree that "Medicaid may cover services as medically necessary when not excluded by law, and that such services may also be addressed by the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998," but again challenge the "value or usefulness" of surgery to treat gender dysphoria, and specifically dispute the medical necessity of surgery for the named plaintiffs. (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 47.)
Cody Flack is an adult resident of Green Bay who suffers from gender dysphoria and identifies as male.
After relocating to Wisconsin in 2012, Cody found the wherewithal to resume his gender transition as he felt his gender identity was more supported, and he increasingly lived and presented as a man. He cut his hair, wore men's clothing, and exclusively went by Cody. He also legally changed his name to Cody Jason Flack to align with his male gender identity and obtained a Wisconsin state identification card, identifying him as male. His Medicaid enrollment now matches his gender identity as well.
For the past several years, Cody has been receiving therapy and other medical care, both to treat his gender dysphoria and to aid his gender transition. Since 2015, Cody has been seeing psychotherapist Daniel Bergman for his gender dysphoria and other mental health conditions. Since August 2016, Cody has also been receiving testosterone hormone therapy under the supervision of an endocrinologist, Dr. Amy DeGueme. This hormone therapy has caused Cody to develop facial and body hair, a more masculine appearance, and a deeper voice. In October 2016, Cody had his uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and cervix removed through a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This procedure was paid for by Wisconsin Medicaid to treat dysmenhorrhea (lower abdominal or pelvic pain during menstruation) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (a severe form of premenstrual syndrome). Plaintiffs contend that Cody's "surgery also helped significantly reduce his gender dysphoria by better aligning his body with his male identity," although defendants dispute this and argue that there is inadequate evidence to determine that surgical treatments have "medical value" or are "useful[]" in treating Cody's gender dysphoria. (See Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 62.)
Despite these changes, Cody still has female-appearing breasts. Plaintiffs and their experts, as well as Cody's treating physicians, contend this causes him severe gender dysphoria, while defendants and their experts question generally whether there is sufficient evidence to conclude further surgical procedures are medically valuable or useful. (Id. ¶ 63.) At minimum, it appears undisputed that Cody's breasts cause him significant, personal distress, as they are a marker of the female sex often contributing to his being perceived as female. Cody is particularly ashamed of his breasts when in public and routinely avoids social situations as a result. In an effort to conceal his breasts, Cody has engaged in "binding," which flattens or reduces their appearance, but has difficulty binding his breasts himself due to his disabilities and finds the technique extremely painful. Binding has caused him sores, skin irritation and respiratory distress.
Since early 2017, therefore, Cody has sought a double mastectomy and male chest reconstruction. He consulted with Dr. Clifford King, a plastic surgeon, whose specialty is transition-related surgeries. Cody provided King with letters of support from his primary care physician, his therapist, his endocrinologist, and the surgeon who performed his hysterectomy. These four letters each detailed that Cody has gender dysphoria, and he met the criteria for surgery. After determining that Cody met the criteria for a male chest reconstruction under the WPATH Standards of
On August 2, 2017, DHS denied Dr. King's prior authorization request without reviewing the medical necessity of his requested surgery as "a non-covered service" and a "not covered benefit" based on the Challenged Exclusion. (See Aug. 2, 2017 Letter (dkt. # 21-18) 2 (capitalization altered); see also Not. Appeal Rights (dkt. # 21-19) 3 ("The service requested is not a covered benefit. The request does not meet one or more of the criteria found in Wisconsin Administrative Code." (capitalization altered)); Sept. 25, 2017 Letter (dkt. # 21-22) 2 (explaining that Flack's "request was denied by DMS as Wis. Admin. Code DHS 107.03(24) specifically lists `transsexual surgery' as a non-covered service under medical assistance" while recognizing that "[t]he medical necessity of the services requested was not taken into account").)
Cody Flack appealed DHS's denial. During his appeal, DHS noted that "gender dysphoria . . . is an accepted medical indication for the surgical treatment requested." (Sept. 25, 2017 Letter (dkt. # 21-22) 2.) Nevertheless, an administrative law judge dismissed the appeal on November 21, 2017, on the basis that "the Wisconsin Administrative Code specifically defines transsexual surgery as not covered by [medical assistance]." (ALJ Decision (dkt. # 21-20) 3.) Even so, the ALJ also noted that "the proposed surgery presumably would favorably address [Flack's] gender dysphoria." (Id.) Cody's formal reconsideration request was denied by DHS on December 11, 2017.
Because Cody is unable to pay for the surgery himself, he reports being profoundly depressed and feeling hopeless and distressed by his chest. While not acting on any such impulses, Cody has considered performing the chest reconstruction himself and contemplated suicide. Plaintiffs further claim that Cody's gender dysphoria has worsened greatly since being denied coverage for the surgery. Defendants purport to dispute these claims because "[t]here is no current mental status examination in Flack's medical records" and without it "there is an insufficient basis for any clinician to conclude that Flack faces an imminent risk of suicide or other self-harm." (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 81 (emphasis added).) Plaintiffs' retained expert, Stephanie L. Budge, PhD, LP, disagrees, having reviewed Cody Flack's treatment records and concluded that his treating therapist "routinely assessed his mental status during Mr. Flack's weekly therapy sessions." (Budge Supp. Decl. (dkt. # 60) ¶ 6.)
Defendants further contend that the recent outpatient notes by Cody's treating physician "primarily focus on issues unrelated to gender reassignment surgery" and "do not indicate that he is so destabilized such that a substantial risk of imminent self-harm exists," arguing that Cody's "self-reports are insufficient . . . to conclude that a serious risk of self-harm exists, let alone that receiving the surgical procedures he seeks will eliminate that risk." (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 81.) Defendants add that Cody has been transitioning for years, which "further indicat[es that] he does not present a substantial risk of self-harm in the near term." (Id.)
Sara Ann Makenzie is an adult resident of Baraboo and lifelong resident of Wisconsin. She also suffers from gender dysphoria after being assigned the male sex at birth and subsequently raised as a boy. Like Cody, Sara Ann has also been found to be disabled and receives Supplemental Security Income.
Despite being assigned the male sex at birth, Sara Ann first identified as female as a child, and she has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria for most of her life. She has legally changed her name to Sara Ann Makenzie, uses feminine pronouns, and wears women's clothing to conform with her female gender identity. Her birth certificate, passport, driver's license and Medicaid enrollment all reflect her name and female identity.
Sara Ann began seeking treatment for gender dysphoria in approximately 2012. She has been on hormone therapy since 2013, which has helped lessen her gender dysphoria. In 2014, she consulted with Dr. Trisha Schimek, her then primary care physician, about genital reconstruction surgery. Dr. Schimek informed her that Wisconsin Medicaid would not cover the surgery. She then sought a breast augmentation surgery because she was often misgendered due to her undeveloped chest. Having been told that Wisconsin Medicaid would not cover that cost either, Sara Ann took out a $5,000 loan from her bank to pay for the procedure, which was performed by Dr. Venkat Rao at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, in August 2016. Since the procedure, she is less often mistaken for a man and less often mistreated for having masculine features. Plaintiffs contend that the procedure "has been an effective treatment for [her] gender dysphoria"; defendants dispute this, arguing that "there is inadequate evidence to conclude that surgical treatments are of proven medical value or usefulness for treating Makenzie's gender dysphoria." (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 103.)
Sara Ann Makenzie reports great distress upon seeing her male-appearing genitalia, which negatively affects her occupational functioning, sexuality and social life. She finds showering or seeing her body in a mirror painful; she lives in constant fear that someone will be able to see her male genitals through her clothing; and she is concerned that she may be attacked or mistreated by someone who recognizes her as transgender. Accordingly, she tries to minimize the appearance of her genitals by wearing multiple pairs of underwear at a time and engaging in "tucking," which is uncomfortable and very painful. She also does not have sex with her fiancée, which adds to her depression and anxiety. Sara Ann's treating physicians have recommended that she have surgery to create
As her current primary care physician, Dr. Beth Potter referred Sara Ann to a plastic surgeon at UW Health in February 2018, for possible genital reconstruction surgery. Dr. Katherine Gast specializes in treating transgender individuals, and she informed Sara Ann of her eligibility for genital reconstruction after submitting two letters of support from mental health providers. However, she also advised that Wisconsin Medicaid would not pay for the procedure. While Sara Ann was prepared to obtain and submit the requisite letters, she was greatly distressed that Medicaid would not pay for the surgery because she could not afford it otherwise so she did not request the letters at that time. (See Makenzie Supp. Decl. (dkt. # 61) ¶ 3.) Sara Ann has thoughts of removing her genitals on her own and of committing suicide. As a result, plaintiffs contend that her gender dysphoria has worsened.
Her psychotherapist, Jessica Bellard, notes that Sara Ann "continues to report symptoms of anxiety, depression, anger, and distress in response to the stressors of transitioning prior to completing gender reassignment surgery" and that she "has expressed a persistent desire for surgery since our original meeting." (Ballard Letter (dkt. # 67) 1.) Sara Ann's independent evaluating therapist, Chelsea O'Neal Karcher, opined that "Sara's hope that the surgery will help lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase happiness, help to increase her confidence, and align her body more fully with her identity" were "realistic expectations for the procedure" and that she "has met all the eligibility and readiness criteria outline[d] in the [WPATH Standards of Care]." (Karcher Letter (dkt. # 61-2) 2.) Her former primary care physician opined that "genital reconstruction is a medically necessary treatment for Ms. Makenzie's gender dysphoria as it would treat the excessive mental distress that she experiences every day because she lives with genitals that do not match her gender." (Schimek Decl. (dkt. # 31) ¶ 9 (emphasis added).) At oral argument, the parties agreed that: (1) her surgeon had not yet sought prior authorization for this surgery; and (2) before that request could be considered by DHS, it would need to be considered by her third-party HMO.
Because Sara Ann Makenzie's medical records lack a current mental status examination, defendants contend that "there is insufficient basis for any clinician to conclude that Makenzie faces an imminent risk of suicide or other self-harm"; indeed, defendants point to a June 14, 2018, letter, which describes her psychiatric symptoms as "appear[ing] . . . quite stable" and records her denying "current or recent history of self-harming behaviors and/or suicidal thoughts." (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 104.) Plaintiffs' expert, Dr. Budge, again disagrees about the importance of locating a formal mental status exam, because "changes in mental status would be charted by the provider" recording "any changes in mental status from week to week." (Budge Supp. Decl. (dkt. # 60) ¶ 5.) Likewise, Dr. Budge explains that "[p]sychological stability does not indicate that one does not currently experience significant distress, nor does it indicate that one will not experience continuing or worsening distress." (Id. ¶ 10.)
As with Cody Flack, defendants assert that "Makenzie's own self-reports are an insufficient basis to conclude that a serious risk of self-harm exists, let alone that receiving the surgical procedures she seeks
Plaintiffs seek a preliminary injunction enjoining defendants from enforcing the Challenged Exclusion against them. As "an extraordinary remedy," preliminary injunctions are "never awarded as a matter of right." Whitaker by Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified Sch. Dist. No. 1 Bd. of Ed., 858 F.3d 1034, 1044 (7th Cir. 2017), cert. dismissed ___ U.S. ___, 138 S.Ct. 1260, 200 L.Ed.2d 415 (2018). The moving party must "mak[e] a threshold showing: (1) that he will suffer irreparable harm absent preliminary injunctive relief during the pendency of his action; (2) inadequate remedies at law exist; and (3) he has a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits." Id. (citing Turnell v. CentiMark Corp., 796 F.3d 656, 661-62 (7th Cir. 2015)). Once the moving party has done so, the court "determine[s] whether the balance of harm favors the moving party or whether the harm to other parties or the public sufficiently outweighs the movant's interests." Id. (citing Jones v. Markiwicz-Qualkinbush, 842 F.3d 1053, 1058 (7th Cir. 2016)).
While the moving party must show "more than a mere possibility of harm" to establish that it likely will suffer irreparable harm absent injunctive relief, this does not mean that the harm must occur or be certain to occur before the merits can be addressed. Whitaker, 858 F.3d at 1044-45. To be irreparable, the harm "cannot be prevented or fully rectified by the final judgment after trial." Id. at 1045 (quoting Girl Scouts of Manitou Council, Inc. v. Girl Scouts of United States of Am., Inc., 549 F.3d 1079, 1089 (7th Cir. 2008)).
As noted, plaintiffs are being denied coverage for medically necessary treatment that was prescribed by their doctors and meets the prevailing standards of care. They contend that allowing them to obtain their surgeries is necessary to protect their well-being and health because they "are at high risk of worsening mental health, exacerbated gender dysphoria, self-harm and stigma"—"none of which has an adequate remedy at law." (Pls.' Br. (dkt. # 19) 23, 27.) More specifically, Cody Flack explained that his noticeable breasts, which he painfully attempts to bind, cause him to "experience severe gender dysphoria" and to think about self-harm and suicide. (Flack Decl. (dkt. # 22) ¶ 15.) Moreover, Cody reports that his gender dysphoria and depression have "become even worse" after coverage for his chest reconstruction surgery was denied;
Importantly, Cody Flack's treating doctors agree. His psychotherapist, Dr. Daniel Bergman: (1) opines that "the chest reconstruction surgeries [Flack] is seeking are medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria"; (2) reports that following the denial of coverage, Cody "became very depressed and started having suicidal thoughts" and "the denial is continuing to have a substantial negative impact on his mental and emotional well-being"; (3) predicts that without access to surgery "in the near future," Cody "would be at risk of suicidality and self-harm"; and (4) opines that "continued denial of this necessary surgery could lead to possible suicidality and an extended inpatient hospitalization." (Bergman Decl. (dkt. # 28) ¶¶ 9, 11, 13 (emphasis added).) In contrast, Dr. Bergman expects surgery "would significantly improve [Flack's] gender dysphoria and alleviate his symptoms of severe depression and anxiety," allowing him to "move forward with his life." (Id. ¶ 14 (emphasis added).) Likewise, Cody Flack's endocrinologist, Dr. Amy Degueme, opined that: (1) he "meets and exceeds" the WPATH Standard of Care criteria for chest reconstruction, which could diminish his gender dysphoria symptoms; (2) chest reconstruction "is a medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria as it would treat the excessive mental distress that he experiences every day because of his chest"; and (3) continued denial of surgery "could lead to increased depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide or self-harm, arising from and related to [Flack's] gender dysphoria." (Degueme Decl. (dkt. # 29) ¶¶ 9, 10, 13 (emphasis added).) Finally, Dr. Clifford King, Cody Flack's consulting surgeon, also concluded that he "met the criteria for obtaining chest reconstruction under the WPATH Standards of Care," and further declares that he is "prepared to schedule and perform the chest reconstruction surgeries on Mr. Flack if DHS approves a prior authorization for Wisconsin Medicaid coverage."
As to Sara Ann Makenzie, she testified that her chest reconstruction in August 2016 "helped minimize [her] gender dysphoria," and reduced the incidents of harassment and misgendering she experienced. (Makenzie Decl. (dkt. # 23) ¶ 22.) Yet, she still "experience[s] profound distress" because of her penis and the fear that others will notice it. (Id. ¶¶ 23-24.) After being told that Wisconsin Medicaid would not pay for the genital reconstruction, she frequently "thought about killing [her]self" and "considered cutting off [her] genitals [her]self." (Id. ¶ 33.) She testified that being unable to get the surgery "has made [her] gender dysphoria worse," and has led her to "engage[ ] in some self-harming behaviors, including cutting in [her] genital area." (Id. ¶ 34.)
And again, Sara Ann Makenzie's treating doctors agree. First, her consulting surgeon, Dr. Katherine Gast, "determined that once Ms. Makenzie provided two letters of support from her treating medical providers, . . . Ms. Makenzie would be eligible
Accordingly, these plaintiffs have advanced more than enough evidence to establish that they face a possibility of irreparable harm at this point. See Bontrager v. Ind. Family and Soc. Servs. Admin, 697 F.3d 604, 611 (7th Cir. 2012) (affirming grant of preliminary injunction enjoining monetary cap limiting Medicaid coverage of dental procedures finding that plaintiffs "will likely suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted, as they would be denied medically necessary care").
Second, Dr. Chester Schmidt opines that "there is an insufficient clinical basis to conclude that either Flack or Makenzie will suffer imminent, irreparable harm if they do not receive gender reassignment surgery prior to the conclusion of this case." (Schmidt Decl. (dkt. # 56) ¶ 8.) Dr. Schmidt's opinion is based on what he describes as: (1) a lack of current mental status examinations for plaintiffs, creating "an insufficient basis for any clinician to conclude that either Flack or Makenzie faces an imminent risk of suicide or other self-harm"; (2) the insufficiency of plaintiffs' self-reports "to conclude that a serious risk of self-harm exists, let alone that receiving the surgical procedures . . . will
Accordingly, plaintiffs have established that they are at risk of irreparable harm, and this factor weighs strongly in favor of injunctive relief.
As to the next factor, the moving party "need not demonstrate a likelihood of absolute success on the merits. Instead, he must only show that his chances to succeed on his claims are `better than negligible.'" Whitaker, 858 F.3d at 1046 (emphasis added) (quoting Cooper v. Salazar, 196 F.3d 809, 813 (7th Cir. 1999)). Here, plaintiffs have demonstrated that they have at least a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits of their Affordable Care Act claim, so again this factor weighs in favor of granting a preliminary injunction.
Plaintiffs claim that the Challenged Exclusion violates § 1557 of the ACA by unlawfully discriminating on the basis of sex—being transgender. (Pls.' Br. (dkt. # 19) 28-33.) Before the court can address
42 U.S.C. § 18116.
Such an express "incorporation of `[t]he enforcement mechanisms' of other statutes is congressional recognition that the act can be enforced through the kind of private right of action authorized by the referenced statutes." Audia v. Briar Place, Ltd., No. 17 CV 6618, 2018 WL 1920082, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 24, 2018) (denying motion to dismiss claim under § 1557 where defendant nursing home failed to provide an ASL interpreter to deaf plaintiff despite multiple requests); Edmo, 2018 WL 2745898 at *8-*9 ("Section 1557 expressly incorporates four federal civil rights statutes and includes similar rights-creating language found in those statutes. . . . The cross reference to these statutes and the use of similar rights-creating terms sufficiently manifests Congressional intent to create a private right."). While no appellate court has determined whether § 1557 provides a private right of action, "several district courts have found that it does." Audia, 2018 WL 1920082 at *3 (collecting cases). For the same reasons, this court agrees.
Turning to the heart of plaintiffs' ACA claim, there is no dispute that Wisconsin Medicaid is "a health program or activity" that "receiv[es] Federal financial assistance"; nor is there any dispute that Title IX prohibits discrimination "on the basis of sex." Instead, the parties dispute whether plaintiffs' transgender status falls under "sex." (See Pls.' Br. (dkt. # 19) 29-33; Opp'n (dkt. # 53) 39-45.) Facially, the answer would appear to be "yes," but because the Challenged Exclusion discriminates against coverage for "transsexual surgery," defendants argue that this no longer involves sex discrimination. Even though "sex" would seem to encompass "transsexual," defendants would distinguish between "gender identity"—what plaintiffs would define as an "internal sense of one's sex," which is innate—from one's "sex"—which is, according to defendants, "assigned at birth, refer[ring] to one's biological status as either male or female, and is associated primarily with physical attributes such as chromosomes, hormone prevalence, and external and internal anatomy," and is "immutable." (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶¶ 4-5, 8.)
Even if defendants' more tortured interpretation of the Challenged Exclusion prevailed, and "sex" needed to include transgender status, plaintiffs still have more than a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits under United States Supreme Court and Seventh Circuit precedent. This is because the scope of what qualifies as prohibited sex discrimination has changed over time. See Hively v. Ivy Tech Cmty. Coll. of Ind., 853 F.3d 339, 345 (7th Cir. 2017) (en banc). As the Hively court explained, Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination "has been understood to cover far more than the simple decision of an employer not to hire a woman for Job A, or a man for Job B"; it now "reaches sexual harassment in the work place, including same-sex workplace harassment; it reaches discrimination based on actuarial assumptions about a person's longevity; and it reaches discrimination based on a person's failure to conform to a certain set of gender stereotypes," which may "have surprised some who served in the 88th
By the same reasoning, discriminating on the basis that an individual was going to, had, or was in the process of changing their sex—or the most pronounced physical characteristics of their sex—is still discrimination based on sex. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia cogently explained why this is so in Schroer v. Billington, 577 F.Supp.2d 293, 306 (D.D.C. 2008), with the example of an individual who is discriminated against for changing religions:
Id.; see also EEOC v. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc., 884 F.3d 560, 571 (6th Cir. 2018) (holding that "discrimination on the basis of transgender and transitioning status is necessarily discrimination on the basis of sex"), petition for cert. filed. In the Title VII context, the Sixth Circuit explained that:
R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, 884 F.3d at 576-77.
Defendants nevertheless would point this court to the Seventh Circuit's decision some 34 years ago in Ulane v. Eastern Airlines, Inc., 742 F.2d 1081 (7th Cir. 1984). (See Opp'n (dkt. # 53) 27, 40.) The Ulane decision was based on the premise that "the same reasons for holding that [homosexuals and transvestites] do not enjoy Title VII coverage apply with equal force to deny protection for transsexuals." 742 F.2d at 1085. The Seventh Circuit, sitting en banc in Hively, drastically undercut the force of that very premise by holding that "discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a form of sex discrimination." 853 F.3d at 341 (emphasis added). Moreover, in Whitaker, the Seventh Circuit declined to conclude that a transgender-student plaintiff lacked a claim under Title IX, expressly holding that Ulane did not "foreclose . . . sex-discrimination claims based on a theory of sex-stereotyping
Indeed, the Seventh Circuit further concluded in Whitaker that a policy subjecting a transgender student—because he was transgender—"to different rules, sanctions, and treatment [compared to] non-transgender students" violated the prohibition against sex discrimination under Title IX. 858 F.3d at 1049-50. This is what the Challenged Exclusion does as well: it creates a different rule governing the medical treatment of transgender people. Specifically, Wisconsin Medicaid covers medically necessary treatment for other health conditions, yet the Challenged Exclusion expressly singles out and bars a medically necessary treatment solely for transgender people suffering from gender dysphoria. In fact, by excluding "transsexual surgery" from coverage, the Challenged Exclusion directly singles out a Medicaid claimant's transgender status as the basis for denying medical treatment. See Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 107.03(23)-(24). As defendants conceded at the preliminary injunction hearing, this means that if breast reduction surgery were deemed medically necessary due to back, neck or shoulder pain, a natal female's surgery would be covered by Wisconsin Medicaid. However, if breast reduction surgery were deemed medically necessary due to gender dysphoria, a natal female's surgery would not be covered under the Challenged Exclusion. This is text-book discrimination based on sex.
While defendants raise a number of other arguments, none come close to undermining plaintiffs' showing of at least a "better than negligible" chance of success on the merits, which as set forth above is the relatively low bar they must meet given proof of their ongoing, irreparable pain and suffering. Perhaps defendants' least persuasive, though most creative, argument is that § 1557 cannot be read to cover transgender status without violating the Spending Clause of the United States Constitution because "Wisconsin could have had no idea that this interpretation would someday prevail when it chose to accept federal Medicaid funding." (Opp'n (dkt. # 53) 43-44.) Nonsense. By the time that the Affordable Care Act was enacted, federal courts had already interpreted prohibitions on sex discrimination to cover adverse treatment of transgender people, and the Supreme Court had already recognized that "statutory prohibitions often go beyond the principal evil to cover reasonably comparable evils." See Whitaker, 858 F.3d at 1048 (quoting Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Servs., Inc., 523 U.S. 75, 79, 118 S.Ct. 998, 140 L.Ed.2d 201 (1998)); see also e.g., Schroer, 577 F.Supp.2d at 306-08; Glenn, 663 F.3d at 1317.
Defendants' argument that Congress's failure to amend Title IX to cover "gender identity" explicitly (Opp'n (dkt. # 53) 42-43) is similarly unpersuasive, and in any event, it was already rejected by the Seventh Circuit in Whitaker. See 858 F.3d at 1049 ("Congressional inaction is not determinative" because it "`lacks persuasive significance because several equally tenable inferences may be drawn from such inaction, including the inference that the existing legislation already incorporated the offered change.'" (quoting Pension Benefit Guar. Corp. v. LTV Corp., 496 U.S. 633, 650, 110 S.Ct. 2668, 110 L.Ed.2d 579 (1990))). Defendants' sundry other arguments similarly miss the thrust of plaintiffs' ACA claim, including that the Challenged Exclusion prevents the state from "encouraging surgeries meant to conform
Aside from being unsympathetic to a medical condition which they acknowledge both plaintiffs suffer from, defendants fail to grasp that not every transgender person requires, or even desires, gender-confirming surgery.
Accordingly, plaintiffs have made a persuasive evidentiary showing, albeit a preliminary one, that the Challenged Exclusion prevents them from getting medically necessary treatments on the basis of both their natal sex and transgender status, which surely amounts to discrimination on the basis of sex in violation of the ACA.
As plaintiffs have already established substantially more than a negligible likelihood of success on their ACA claim, the court need not address plaintiffs' equal protection claim. See Gibson v. Am. Cyanamid Co., 760 F.3d 600, 608 (7th Cir. 2014) (recognizing the court's "general duty to avoid federal constitutional issues if the matter can be resolved on other grounds"). However, because this may be an alternative basis for the Seventh Circuit to rule on appeal, the court will address this claim briefly as well. The outcome of plaintiffs' equal protection claim may largely turn on the standard of review: rational basis or heightened scrutiny. Even if rational basis review applies, the so-called "rational basis with a bite" standard may be justified if the Challenged Exclusion is found to be the product of "animus or a desire to harm a politically unpopular group." See United States v. Wilde, 74 F.Supp.3d 1092, 1096-97 (N.D. Cal. 2014) (explaining that "the rational basis `with a bite' standard is less deferential" so that "a challenged law will be struck down if the court determines that it is in fact arbitrary, irrational, and/or unreasonable" (citing Allegheny Pittsburgh Coal Co. v. Cnty. Commissioner, 488 U.S. 336, 344-45, 109 S.Ct. 633, 102 L.Ed.2d 688 (1989); City of Cleburne, Texas v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 450, 105 S.Ct. 3249, 87 L.Ed.2d 313 (1985); Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620, 634, 116 S.Ct. 1620, 134 L.Ed.2d 855 (1996)));
On the other hand, heightened scrutiny may be appropriate either on the basis of sex discrimination or through the recognition of transgender as a suspect or quasi-suspect class. See Whitaker, 858 F.3d at 1051 (applying heightened scrutiny to invalidate policy preventing transgender teen from using the bathroom consistent with his gender identity because the "policy cannot be stated without referencing sex, as the School District decides which bathroom a student may use based upon the sex listed on the student's birth certificate," making it "inherently based upon a sex-classification"); Glenn, 663 F.3d at 1316 (holding that discrimination based on gender non-conformity is sex-based discrimination under the equal protection clause); id. at 1317-18 (collecting cases recognizing that discrimination based on gender non-conformity is sex discrimination); Barron, 286 F.Supp.3d at 1140-41, 1144-45 (finding equal protection violation caused by state policy categorically rejecting requests by transgender persons to amend their birth-assigned sex on their birth certificates and requiring substitute policy to meet heightened scrutiny because "to conclude discrimination based on gender identity or transsexual status is not discrimination based on sex is to depart from advanced medical understanding in favor of archaic reasoning"); Karnoski v. Trump, No. C17-1297-MJP, 2018 WL 1784464, at *9 (W.D. Wash. Apr. 13, 2018) (concluding transgender is a protected class subject to strict scrutiny review in assessing the ban on transgender people from serving in the military), appeal docketed;
The court has already found that plaintiffs have made a strong showing of sex discrimination. As to whether the transgender population in Wisconsin is a suspect or quasi-suspect class, plaintiffs' proffered evidence is equally strong. Greater than a quarter of adult transgender Wisconsinites live in poverty, which is greater than twice the overall national poverty rate. One in five is unemployed. Nearly 60% of Wisconsin's transgender people "have recently experienced mistreatment by law enforcement officers who perceived or knew them to be transgender." (Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' PFOF (dkt. # 54) ¶ 27.)
As the Seventh Circuit has often instructed, the balancing of harms "is done on a `sliding scale' measuring the balance of harms against the moving party's likelihood of success. The more likely he is to succeed on the merits, the less the scale must tip in his favor" on the likelihood of irreparable injury. Whitaker by Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School Dist. No. 1 Bd. of Ed., 858 F.3d 1034, 1054 (7th Cir. 2017) (citing Turnell v. CentiMark Corp., 796 F.3d 656, 662 (7th Cir. 2015)). Additionally, the moving party must show that the irreparable harm "absent injunctive relief, outweighs the irreparable harm the respondent will suffer if the injunction is granted." Joelner v. Vill. of Wash. Park, Ill., 378 F.3d 613, 619 (7th Cir. 2004) (affirming in part and vacating in part order partially granting plaintiff's request for a preliminary injunction enjoining ordinances governing adult entertainment establishments and associated fees).
Here, the likelihood of ongoing, irreparable harm facing these two, individual plaintiffs outweighs any marginal impacts on the defendants' stated concerns regarding public health or limiting costs. As addressed above, defendants' concern about protecting the public health by limiting Wisconsin Medicaid to "medically necessary purposes" (Fiscal Estimate (dkt. # 21-14) 3) is misplaced here, given the
Even if the state were required to cover such procedures for a few additional claimants who meet the same high burden as plaintiffs of proving a medical need during the pendency of this case, the cost of these additional payments would be equally out-weighed by the likelihood of reducing those claimants' suffering and of fulfilling the public interest in providing medically necessary procedures.
Finally, plaintiffs ask that the court not require them to post a security bond as a condition of the preliminary injunction. (Pls.' Br. (dkt. # 19) 49.) Defendants failed to address this request in their brief and at oral argument confirmed that they are not seeking a bond. Moreover, while Rule 65(c) states that a "court may issue a preliminary injunction . . . only if the movant gives security in an amount that the court considers proper to pay the costs and damages sustained by any party found to have been wrongfully enjoined or restrained," Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(c), a bond is not always necessary. "Under appropriate circumstances bond may be excused, notwithstanding the literal language of Rule 65(c). Indigence is such a circumstance." Wayne Chem., Inc. v. Columbus Agency Serv. Corp., 567 F.2d 692, 702 (7th Cir. 1977) (citations omitted) (affirming district court's decision to not require a bond for the preliminary injunction based on plaintiff's indigency). As demonstrated by their inability to work, receipt of Supplemental Security Income, and enrollment in Wisconsin Medicaid, plaintiffs are plainly indigent. Accordingly, the court will not require plaintiffs to post a bond. Nor, for all the reasons already set forth above, will the court stay enforcement of this preliminary injunction given the plaintiffs' already-long wait to receive medically necessary surgery for gender dysphoria, particularly since the time required for DHS's authorization review of plaintiffs' requests for coverage should provide sufficient time for defendants to seek a stay from the Seventh Circuit.
IT IS ORDERED that:
(WPATH Standards of Care (dkt. # 55-6) 65.) In fact, plaintiffs represent that Cody "tentatively scheduled surgery with Dr. King for September 5, 2018, in the event [that] an injunction were to issue." (Pls.' Status Rpt. (dkt. # 66) 1.)
(WPATH Standards of Care (dkt. # 55-6) 66.) These same criteria apply for a vaginoplasty, with the additional requirement of "12 continuous months of living in a gender role that is congruent with their gender identity." (Id.)
(Mayer Rpt. (dkt. # 55-1) 8-9.)
286 F.Supp.3d at 1144-45 (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). See also John W. Barnhill, Chapter 14. Gender Dysphoria Introduction, in DSM-5 Clinical Cases 237, 238 (John W. Barnhill ed., 2014) (noting the belated recognition that being transgender is not itself a disorder).
