CME 
JOBS 
OUTBREAKS 
PEER-TO-PEER 
QUIZZES & QUESTIONS 
MEDTECH Is Texas’ Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Reducing Access to Essential Health Care?
A recent bill signed into Texas law marks a substantial legislative shift in gender-affirming care for minors, banning health care providers from prescribing hormones or puberty blockers, and preventing surgeries to aid minors in gender transition. Alongside more than 75 similar anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed this year, this new law raises significant concerns over reduced access to health care for transgender individuals. The situation casts a spotlight on the vital role pharmacists can play in providing support, education, and advocacy.
Key Points:
- The Texas bill, effective September 2023, bans gender-affirming care for minors, including hormone and puberty blocker prescriptions, and surgeries.
- Similar laws have been passed across various states, imposing barriers like banning gender-affirming care, restroom restrictions, anti-drag laws, and possible criminal consequences for providers.
- A 2022 study linked states’ anti-transgender bills with an increase in suicide- and depression-related web searches.
- Pharmacists, as the most accessible health care providers, must engage in advocacy, self-education, and allyship to assist affected patients, given that 40% feel unprepared for transgender-related care counseling.
Additional Points:
- Building trust with transgender patients is essential, including respectful use of pronouns, mirroring language, avoiding deadnaming, and advocating for gender-inclusive systems.
- Amy Howard, MS, PharmD, highlights the need for well-designed research and the importance of incorporating lived experiences to inform future policy and advocacy.
Conclusion:
- The Texas law and similar legislation mark a turning point in gender-affirming care, placing a significant burden on transgender individuals. Pharmacists must step up as allies, educators, and advocates to help navigate these challenges.
Pediatrics Latest Posts
- Cedars-Sinai Expands Virtual Healthcare for Children & Spanish Speakers
- CDC Sounds Alarm on Rising Cases of Meningococcal Disease with Atypical Presentation
- FDA Approves Antibiotic Zevtera to Treat Multiple Serious Infections
- New York Grand Jury Releases Scathing Report Against Child Protection Services Agency
“If we want to ensure that treatment options for transgender youth are as safe as possible, we need to promote funding well-designed research in this field.”
Amy Howard, MS, PharmD
Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
