Hawaii lawmakers have passed a bill that bans insurance companies from discriminating against transgender patients, according to an Associated Press report published by the TimesDaily.
Here are four things to know about the bill.
1. Under the bill, insurance companies are prohibited from denying, canceling or limiting coverage based on gender identification.
2. Democratic Rep. Chris Lee, who introduced the bill, called the legislation "critical." "Here in Hawaii where we treat everyone with respect and aloha. We think everyone is created equal and ought to be treated the same," he said, according to the report.
3. Republican Rep. Bob McDermott expressed concern about the bill. "This bill would be much more compassionate if we offered them free psychiatric care ... instead of trying to address a psychological disorder with a physical solution," he said, according to the report.
4. The Hawaii House of Representatives passed the legislation Tuesday. The bill had already been approved by the Hawaii Senate, and it now goes to Democratic Hawaii Gov. David Ige.
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