Bill to Ban Public Funds for Gender-Affirming Care Faces Vote in Idaho Legislature

Boise, Idaho – Idaho lawmakers are gearing up to vote on a contentious bill this week that would prohibit the use of any public funds for gender-affirming care, encompassing services for state employees utilizing workplace health insurance and for adults under Medicaid coverage. The proposed legislation garnered the approval of the House and awaits a majority Republican Senate green light before heading to Governor Brad Little’s desk for anticipated endorsement. Governor Little has consistently voiced …

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BILL BANNING PUBLIC FUNDS FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE ADVANCES IN IDAHO HOUSE

BOISE, Idaho – A bill aiming to prohibit the use of public funds for gender-affirming medications and surgeries for adults and children in Idaho has advanced to the Idaho House floor. House Bill 668 specifically targets the coverage of gender-affirming care by public funds, referencing definitions outlined in Idaho’s existing ban on such treatments for minors. The proposed ban would impact Idaho’s Medicaid program, which provides coverage for approximately 300,000 low-income and disabled individuals in …

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Gender-Affirming Care Guidelines Undergo Three-Year Reevaluation Amid Political Controversy

New York, USA – The Endocrine Society has announced plans for a comprehensive review of its guidelines regarding gender-affirming care, a vital resource for medical professionals catering to transgender individuals. Despite ongoing political debates surrounding transgender healthcare, the review process is a routine occurrence for the society. With 18,000 members, the Endocrine Society plays a pivotal role in guiding medical practitioners on providing appropriate care to transgender patients, helping them navigate the complexities of hormone …

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GENDER-AFFIRMING TREATMENT RESTRICTIONS EASED FOR ADULTS IN OHIO

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio’s proposed rules that would have restricted gender-affirming care for adults have been revised by the Health Department and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. These proposed rules would have required specific medical professionals to have roles in creating gender-affirming care plans for clinics and hospitals, and also mandated counseling for patients under 21 before starting hormone treatment or gender-affirming surgery. Advocates and healthcare providers feared the original rules would have …

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Access to Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Adults Reinstated in Ohio After Public Outcry

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio’s Health Department has made significant changes to the proposed administrative rules that would have restricted access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults. This decision comes after overwhelming opposition from the public, prompting the department to revise the rules. The new rules are a stark contrast to the original draft, which drew criticism from LGBTQ advocates and medical professionals for imposing restrictions that would limit access to care for transgender minors …

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Florida Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Minors Blocked by Federal Court

Tallahassee, Florida – A federal court has intervened in Florida’s attempt to enact a law prohibiting gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. The law specifically targets puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for transgender minors and imposes restrictions for adults seeking such treatments. The ruling, which also applies to regulations set by the Florida Boards of Medicine, follows a lengthy legal battle in the case of Doe v. Ladapo. The court’s decision comes after a three-day …

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Florida Considers Controversial Bill Limiting Coverage of Gender-Affirming Healthcare

Tallahassee, Florida – Lawmakers in Florida are currently deliberating on a bill that could have far-reaching effects on the healthcare coverage for transgender individuals. House Bill 1639, known as the Trans Erasure Bill by LGBTQ+ advocates, is just one of 22 proposed anti-LGBTQ+ bills for the 2024 legislative session in Florida. This bill, if passed, would make it easier for health insurance providers to deny coverage for gender-affirming healthcare, including hormone replacement therapy and surgery, …

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Transgender Advocates Condemn Ohio Governor’s Proposed Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently introduced proposed regulations that have been met with criticism from transgender advocates. The regulations are seen as potential barriers to accessing gender-affirming care, specifically from independent clinics and general practitioners. The implementation of these proposed rules has raised concerns about the health risks and challenges that thousands of adults in the transgender community may face in obtaining necessary treatment. Ashton Colby, a transgender man from Columbus, expressed …

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Rising Malpractice Premiums Pose Barrier to Gender-Affirming Care for Minors at Small Clinics

Moline, Illinois – After the passing of a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in Iowa, a clinic in Moline, Illinois, has stepped in to offer these essential services to patients in need. The Project of the Quad Cities, a local LGBTQ+ health clinic, has hired a specialist in transgender healthcare in an effort to provide care to patients from rural eastern Iowa who previously had to travel long distances for treatment. This move comes …

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Gender-Affirming Healthcare Coverage Ruling Sets Precedent in Federal Court

RICHMOND, Va. – In a significant legal decision with potential nationwide impact, a federal judge ruled on Monday that state health plans and government-funded insurance programs cannot exclude coverage for gender-affirming medical care. The ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed lower-court decisions directing North Carolina and West Virginia to discontinue policies that deny coverage for gender-affirming care. These policies, Judge Roger Gregory stated, discriminate based on sex and gender identity, without …

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