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Bill Would Cut Circumcisions From Medicaid Payments

Jon Ovington

A bill proposed in the state legislature would end Medicaid payments for circumcisions.

The bill’s sponsor, state representative Keith Murphy of Bedford, describes the practice as unethical.

"To me there’s something fundamentally wrong about strapping a baby boy to a board and amputating perfectly healthy, normal tissue," says Murphy.

Murphy adds trimming circumcisions from the state budget will save money, although how much will be determined by the legislature next year.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the medical benefits of circumcisions outweigh the risks. Eighteen states deny Medicaid dollars for the procedure, including California, Maine and Florida.

Circumcisions are an important religious procedure for Muslims and Jews.

Before joining NHPR in August 2014, Jack was a freelance writer and radio reporter. His work aired on NPR, BBC, Marketplace and 99% Invisible, and he wrote for the Christian Science Monitor and Northern Woodlands.
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