Biden administration forces medical providers to do gender transitions according to a Red state Attorney General
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is taking a stand against the new “radical mandate” from the Biden administration that requires healthcare providers to perform transgender surgical procedures, even on children, and forces states to foot the bill. This controversial move has sparked outrage among many who believe that doctors should not be coerced into harming children.
Attorney General Bailey is teaming up with the American College of Pediatricians and the attorneys general of several states including Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah to challenge what they see as an overreach by federal regulators. They are determined to prevent what they call “out-of-touch federal bureaucrats” from imposing experimental gender transition procedures on healthcare providers using taxpayer dollars.
In April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made changes to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which prohibits discrimination based on various factors in health programs and services that receive federal funding. The updated rule now includes protections based on “gender identity” and “termination of pregnancy” within the definition of discrimination on the basis of sex.
The lawsuit argues that this new rule puts doctors and states at risk of financial penalties and exclusion from federally funded healthcare programs if they do not comply with the mandate. This, in turn, could impact the ability of healthcare providers to serve vulnerable children in low-income communities.
Missouri Attorney General Bailey contends that the ACA and its relevant statutes do not require gender-transition procedures, casting doubt on the legal basis for the new rule. The lawsuit further alleges that the rule violates the ACA and Administrative Procedure Act, and infringes on the freedom of speech. It also highlights the lack of clear communication and agreement with states and healthcare providers regarding funding and provision of gender-transition treatments through federal insurance programs.
Amidst this legal battle, conservative states are pushing back against transgender procedures for minors, with some going as far as criminalizing such practices. States like Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Florida have made it illegal to provide gender-transition prescriptions or perform surgical procedures on minors. However, other states such as California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and New York have enacted laws to protect these procedures and prescriptions for transgender individuals.
The clash over transgender healthcare is emblematic of larger debates around gender identity, healthcare access, and individual rights. As the legal challenge unfolds, it is clear that the issue is far from settled, and the outcome could have significant implications for healthcare providers, states, and transgender individuals across the country.
