"Not reasonable in light of subsequent developments"

Depending on where you live and how you get your news you may have heard that Medicare changed its policy - first published in 1981 - to allow coverage of medically necessary sex-reassignment surgeries.

Or you may have heard OH NOES DEATH PANEL PENIS FOR GRANDMA!!!




I'm not linking to any of the stories because those stories have comments and the comments are all the proof you need that human beings, as a whole, are fuckweasels. 

Here's the ruling [pdf]. 

Patients and doctors regularly appeal Medicare's coverage policies. This appeal was brought by Denee Mallon a 79-year old veteran. What's interesting to note is CMS didn't bother to defend this appeal.

Congratulations to Ms. Mallon and all of the Medicare patients who'll benefit.