The State of Florida has moved forward with a new policy that would deny Medicaid coverage for transgender treatments including puberty-blockers and hormone therapy. The Florida Department of Health prefaced the likely rule in April, but now the new policy stems from the Agency for Health Care Administration.
“Following a review of available literature, clinical guidelines and coverage by other insurers and nations, Florida Medicaid has determined that the research supporting sex reassignment treatment is insufficient to demonstrate efficacy and safety,” said the report, which was signed in June by state Medicaid director Tom Wallace.
Among the other procedures not covered included hormone “antagonists,” sex-reassignment surgeries and any “other procedures that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics.”
Pro-LGBT groups, like Equality Florida, have come out in opposition to the new rule from the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) administration.
“Governor DeSantis’ agencies have misrepresented findings and distorted data to advance a political agenda, rather than relying on good science,” said Jon Harris Maurer, public policy director for the LGBTQ-advocacy group Equality Florida on June 2. “This is yet another state agency being used to launch an overt attack on transgender Floridians. The transgender community, like all people, shouldn’t have their access to basic, medically necessary, and often life-saving care stripped away by extremist politicians hoping to stoke right-wing fervor. Florida should put public health over politics.”
Medical and legal researchers also came out condemning the move claiming that the study the State of Florida is relying on ignores “established science.”
Dr. Alex Keuroghlian, an associate professor of psychology at Harvard University said that affirming transgender care has been proven to be effective at combating gender dysphoria.
“There’s a remarkable amount of cohesiveness and consensus in the community that these are beneficial. But those aren’t the people that (AHCA is) listening to. They’re wanting to impose certain people’s views on trans folks rather than centering autonomy and control,” Keuroghlian said.
Despite the national condemnation, DeSantis has been unwavering in his opposition to transgender ideology being influential in Florida’s schools, and even condemned transgender Yale swimmer self-named “Lia” Thomas winning championships saying that the NCAA is “making a mockery of its championships.”
By allowing men to compete in women's sports, the NCAA is destroying opportunities for women, making a mockery of its championships, and perpetuating a fraud.
In Florida, we reject these lies and recognize Sarasota's Emma Weyant as the best women's swimmer in the 500y freestyle. pic.twitter.com/tBmFxFE3q6
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 22, 2022
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
