I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1981 
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit payments under 
the Medicaid program for conversion therapy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 28, 2019 
Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York (for himself, Mr. TED LIEU of 
California, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. NORTON, 
Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. CRIST, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. CARSON 
of Indiana, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. COHEN, Mr. KILMER, Mr. MICHAEL F. 
DOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL, Mr. GOMEZ, Ms. 
MCCOLLUM, 
Mr. 
SMITH
of 
Washington, 
Mr. 
MCGOVERN, 
Mr. 
GARAMENDI, Mr. KENNEDY, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. 
QUIGLEY, Mr. RYAN, Mr. CICILLINE, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. FOSTER, 
Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Mr. 
TONKO, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. HIGGINS of New York, Ms. ROY-
BAL-ALLARD, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. POCAN, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. HASTINGS, 
Mr. MOULTON, Ms. TITUS, Mrs. TORRES of California, Mr. HIMES, Mr. 
RUSH, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. KILDEE, Mrs. CRAIG, Ms. 
JACKSON LEE, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. PETERS, Ms. OMAR, Ms. 
WEXTON, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. NADLER, Ms. DELAURO, Ms. WILD, Mr. 
HECK, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. PANETTA, 
Ms. KELLY of Illinois, and Mr. BROWN of Maryland) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit 
payments under the Medicaid program for conversion 
therapy, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prohibition of Med-
icaid Funding for Conversion Therapy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON MEDICAID PAYMENTS FOR CON-
VERSION THERAPY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1902 of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (85), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (86), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (86) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(87) provide that, beginning with the first day 
of the first quarter that begins on or after the date 
of enactment of this paragraph, no payment may be 
made under the plan with respect to conversion ther-
apy (as defined in subsection (qq)) furnished to an 
individual enrolled under the plan (or a waiver of 
such plan).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
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‘‘(qq) CONVERSION THERAPY; GENDER IDENTITY; 
PERSON; SEXUAL ORIENTATION.—For purposes of sub-
section (a)(87) and this subsection: 
‘‘(1) CONVERSION THERAPY.—The term ‘con-
version therapy’— 
‘‘(A) means any practice or treatment by 
any person that seeks to change another indi-
vidual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, 
including efforts to change behaviors or gender 
expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or 
romantic attractions or feelings toward individ-
uals of the same gender, if such person receives 
monetary compensation in exchange for any 
such practice or treatment; and 
‘‘(B) does not include any practice or 
treatment, which does not seek to change sexual 
orientation or gender identity, that— 
‘‘(i) provides assistance to an indi-
vidual undergoing a gender transition; or 
‘‘(ii) provides acceptance, support, 
and understanding of a client or facilita-
tion of a client’s coping, social support, 
and identity exploration and development, 
including sexual orientation-neutral inter-
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ventions to prevent or address unlawful 
conduct or unsafe sexual practices. 
‘‘(2) GENDER
IDENTITY.—The term ‘gender 
identity’ means the gender-related identity, appear-
ance, mannerisms, or other gender-related character-
istics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s 
designated sex at birth. 
‘‘(3) PERSON.—The term ‘person’ means any 
individual, partnership, corporation, cooperative, as-
sociation, or any other entity. 
‘‘(4) SEXUAL ORIENTATION.—The term ‘sexual 
orientation’ means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or 
bisexuality.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1903(i) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(i)) is amended 
by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(9) with respect to any amount expended for 
conversion therapy (as defined in section 1902(qq)) 
on 
or 
after 
the 
date 
described 
in 
section 
1902(a)(87); or’’. 
Æ 
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