Mika Covington, Aiden Vasquez, f/k/a Aiden Delathower, and One Iowa, Inc.
v.
Kim Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa, and Iowa Department of Human Services
Appellant
Mika Covington, Aiden Vasquez, f/k/a Aiden Delathower, and One Iowa, Inc.
Appellee
Kim Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa, and Iowa Department of Human Services
Attorneys for the Appellant
Rita Bettis Austen and Shefali Aurora of ACLU of Iowa Foundation Inc.
F. Thomas Hecht, Tina B. Solis, and Seth A. Horvath
John Knight of ACLU Foundation LGBT & HIV Project
Attorney for the Appellee
Jeffrey S. Thompson, Solicitor General of Iowa, and Thomas J. Ogden, Assistant Attorney General
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, David M. Porter, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Bower, C.J., and Doyle and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Doyle, J. (8 pages)
Mika Covington, Aiden Vasquez, and One Iowa, Inc. appeal the district court order dismissing their petition for declaratory judgment and denying their motion for injunctive relief. OPINION HOLDS: I. Although a legislative amendment allows Medicaid providers to deny gender-affirming surgical procedures to transgender Iowans, nothing prohibits Medicaid providers from allowing such a claim. Because any dispute regarding the denial of gender-affirming surgical procedures is speculative until a denial occurs, the matter is not ripe for adjudication. II. Because the petitioners have an adequate remedy at law by means of administrative challenge, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying their motion for temporary injunctive relief. III. One Iowa lacks standing to bring the action.
