Florida Pushes Forward to Ban Gender-Affirming Care for Medicaid Users
Joseph Ladapo, an appointee of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, has recommended against providing medical care to transgender youth if it involves transitioning.The state Agency for Health Care Administration last month released a report deeming gender-affirming care for any patient to be “experimental and investigational” and recommended not allowing Medicaid to cover such care.But a change in state rules remains in the consideration phase.
If the state agency adopts the recommendations, that means there will no longer be Medicaid coverage in Florida for puberty blockers, hormones and hormone antagonists, gender-affirmation surgeries, and other procedures that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics, according to Florida Politics.Last Friday, a meeting was held in Tallahassee about blocking Medicaid reimbursements for those seeking gender-affirming care.
Ladapo’s new rule was met with significant discussion at the meeting, with people traveling across the state to testify on it.During the meeting, the state flew in a witness, Chloe Cole, who said she had “de-transitioned” after using puberty blockers and having a double mastectomy. “No child should have to experience what I have,” Cole told AHCA officials, according to Florida Politics.The language in the proposed rule change would also ban physicians from considering gender dysphoria when determining what medical treatments would be necessary for patients.That’s a position that runs directly contrary to the American Medical Association’s policy for youth and for adults.
Last year, the top medical organization in the country formally urged governors and state legislatures to stop creating barriers for gender-affirming care for youth in a letter to the National.
