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After years of debate, Colorado has joined 17 other states that no longer cover infant male circumcision under Medicaid. The reversal, effective July 1, is projected to save $186,500 toward Colorado’s estimated $1 billion budget shortfall.In February, South Carolina stopped funding circumcision through Medicaid, a move that should save it $114,800 a year. Other states that have made the policy change include Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, and Louisiana.
World Health Organization data show that 75 percent of US baby boys are circumcised outside of religious ceremonies, compared to 30 percent elsewhere. WHO notes that circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60 percent.
Joanne Zahora, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, said studies her organization has seen indicate that circumcision is not medically necessary.
One state senator in favor of retaining the funding is Irene Aguilar, also a primary care physician at Denver Health. Aguilar considers eliminating the coverage “penny-wise and dollar-poor” in light of its preventive effect on urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and cervical cancer in heterosexual men’s sexual partners.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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