…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
Maryland lawmakers and Gov. Wes Moore have passed legislation that expands taxpayer-funded Medicaid coverage to include transgender surgeries and drugs for children.
The previous Maryland law, in effect until Jan. 1, 2024, covered transgender surgeries and drugs for patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria who were at least 18 years old.
However, the new law removes the age requirements for transgender drugs and surgeries, and also expands the number of services provided to children and adults to include hair alterations, voice surgery, “butt” alterations, face and neck alterations, fertility preservation services, and puberty blockers for children.
The legislation also expands coverage to services related to detransitioning.
Republicans in Maryland have criticized the new law, and some of them fought to include amendments that would have prohibited Medicaid from covering sex change surgeries for children or required both parents to consent before a child could receive those services.
The amendments failed, which means that doctors can perform these surgeries on children and prescribe the drugs as long as one parent or guardian consents.
Concerns about the irreversible effects that these procedures could have on children have been raised, with Republican Del.
Ryan Nawrocki expressing concerns that “never in human history have there been experiments on children at this scale.”
Republican Del. Brian Chisholm added that there is “no real determination of what’s medically necessary,” and if a child gets started on puberty blockers, there is a much greater chance it will “progress to a much more dangerous surgery.”
The bill’s co-sponsor, Del. Bonnie Cullison, said that the legislation doesn’t change current practice related to minors, and surgeries would remain rare.
However, Sarah Parshall Perry, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, commented that “these entirely elective procedures are already commonly covered by private insurance, but now taxpayers in the state will be forced to subsidize hormone therapy, hair alteration, voice therapy, physical alterations to the body, and fertility preservation.”
Analysis and Commentaries
The new law in Maryland reflects the increasing trend in the United States of expanding access to healthcare for transgender individuals, especially minors.
However, it has faced opposition from Republicans who believe that it will lead to irreversible harm to children.
The concerns about the potential side effects of puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries on children have been a topic of debate among medical professionals and policymakers.
On the one hand, supporters of the new law argue that transgender individuals have a right to access healthcare services that align with their gender identity, and that denying them such care can lead to mental health issues and discrimination.
They also argue that puberty blockers and hormone therapy can help alleviate gender dysphoria and prevent the need for more invasive surgeries later in life.
The inclusion of detransitioning services in the new law has also been praised by some as a recognition of the complexity of gender identity.
On the other hand, opponents of the new law argue that the medical risks and long-term effects of puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries on children have not been fully researched or understood.
They also argue that children may not fully comprehend the implications of such procedures, and that parental consent alone may not be sufficient to ensure that children make informed decisions.
Moreover, some opponents argue that expanding Medicaid coverage to include these procedures is a misuse of taxpayer money, and that private insurance should be responsible for covering elective procedures.
The new law in Maryland represents a significant development in the ongoing debate over healthcare access for transgender individuals, especially minors.
It remains to be seen whether other states will follow suit, or whether the opposition to such laws will continue to grow.