Colorado will end coverage for routine circumcisions under Medicaid next month, adding to what’s become a national debate over the once widely-accepted procedure.
The change, which takes effect July 1, is expected to save the state $186,500 a year.
The issue has been contentious in California, where San Francisco is set to be the first city to hold a public vote on banning circumcision.
Supporters say male circumcision is a form of genital mutilation that parents should not be able to force on their young children.
Jewish and Muslim families are challenging the San Francisco proposal in court, claiming it violates their right to practice their religion and decide what’s best for their children.
(Source: ABC News)
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13 Responses
Why SHOULD Medicaid pay for any ELECTIVE medical procedures? It isn’t like Medicaid is the public option national health insurance, yet.
akuperma is right on about this – our religious freedom is one thing…an entirely different issue is whether the public should pay for what is widely seen today as a procedure without any clear medical purpose.
The ‘ tzushtel ‘ here is sicking me! Why should Medicaid pay for it UNLESS it is necessary?
There should be cross mention in the story between the two. Furthermore, its not a national debate. It is a debate in san fagcisco as well as perhaps other locals in the peoples republic of mexifornia but not in too many other places.
A Mohel does Not charge a fee for doing a Bris, he is doing a Mitzvah, although, a Mohel is usually tipped, No Mohel has ever refused a Bris for not being tipped/paid
#1. There is no reason to allow anyone to gain any ground on this issue. THIS is something that everyone has to fight!!!!
#3 – what does Mexifornia have to do with it – the Hispanics aren’t behind it – just frei Jews and WASPs
#5 – if “Circumcision” is a medical procedure (and eligible for medicaid reimbursement), then it can be regulated by the government in all details and indeed needs government approval. If it is a religious ritual, it is free from government control. We want the latter position.
Any Yid who can’t afford a Bris can find someone to pick up the expenses. It’s never been a problem.
aries2756..think more and choose your fights…it won’t help one wit to fight a bad one like this…just makes us look uneducated and selfish.
#5
You are totally wrong.
1) Medicaid never paid for an elective Bris. Maybe they paid for elective non-religious hospital circumcision which doesn’t concern us at all.
2) If we start fighting on this issue, we realy put Brissen in danger. We have to pick and choose your fights.
I am surprised that medicaid paid for this procedure as it is medically unnecessary. When you need medical procedures that they don’t pay for. Bris is a religions right of passage for all Jewish and muslim boys, no government or insurance agency should ever put out a single penny for it.
We must maintain our separation from the government by taking medicaid money they gain the right to interfere
Circumcision by doctor is not done for religious reasons, its for medical reasons. (80% of US males are circumcised). And while I agree that this has nothing to do with religion (medicaid never paid for a bris performed by a mohel) isen’t medicaid paying bilions a year to pay or elective medical treatments like abortion.
Medicaid never paid a Mohel to do a Bris. So this is irrelevant news to us.
It’s not true that there’s no medical purpose for circumcision. Studies have shown that it reduces the risk of HIV infection.
#12 – Not doing certain types of behavior also reduces the risk of HIV infection. What has that got to do with whether the government should pay for circumcision? I never asked a Mohel if it was medically necessary to do what Hashem told me to do.