Health Care
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Health Care
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Ohio lawmakers ban gender-affirming care for minors |
Ohio legislators banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth on Wednesday and prevented trans women and girls from competing on female school sports teams, overriding Gov. Mike DeWine’s (R) veto. |
Ohio now joins nearly two dozen other GOP-led states that have adopted similar laws after the state House also voted earlier this month to overturn the veto. Both chambers have Republican supermajorities.
As a result of the vote, transgender parents won’t be able to access treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under the age of 18, though residents already on those treatments will be allowed to continue. The law takes effect in 90 days.
“Our youth deserve better from our elected officials than cruelty that targets and harms children,” advocacy group TransOhio said in a statement Wednesday. “Our community is strong and resilient in ways that hateful legislators can not comprehend, and trans Ohioans across the state cannot and will not be legislated away.”
Gender-affirming health care for trans minors and adults is considered medically necessary by many major medical organizations, though not every trans person chooses to medically transition or has access to care.
Republicans argued the bill protects children. But DeWine vetoed House Bill 68 on Dec. 29, telling reporters at a press conference that such a measure, if it became law, would do more harm than good.
Beyond the Legislature, access to gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and adults in Ohio is set to be heavily restricted under proposed administrative rules filed earlier this month by the state Health Department.
The proposed regulations have drawn criticism from LGBTQ rights groups and medical professionals, who say the rules would make Ohio one of the most restrictive states in the nation with respect to gender-affirming care. In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ACLU of Ohio said the rules could amount to a “de facto ban” on care. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Congressional Republicans are rallying behind Zyn, a brand of flavored oral nicotine pouches, amid a push from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for federal action on the tobacco and electronic cigarette alternative. “This calls for a Zynsurrection!” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted on X, formerly Twitter. Schumer over the weekend urged the Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) … |
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| The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urgently warning consumers against using Neptune’s Fix — a pain supplement also known as “gas station heroin.” These supplements contain tianeptine and are commonly sold under the brand name Neptune’s Fix at gas stations and other convenience stores. The FDA warned the use of the products has been linked to severe side effects, including seizures, loss of consciousness and … |
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A study published this week estimated nearly 65,000 pregnancies associated with rape occurred in the 14 states that have enacted abortion bans since the Dobbs decision in 2022. The study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American of Medical Association (JAMA) used federal data to estimate the number of rape-related pregnancies that occurred between July 1, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2024. Based on available data, researchers … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching: |
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The Senate Aging Committee holds a hearing Thursday on assisted living facilities.
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Branch out with a different read: |
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Washington state reaches a nearly $150 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson over opioid crisis |
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state attorney general announced a $149.5 million settlement Wednesday with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson, more than four years after the state sued the company over its role fueling the opioid addiction crisis. “They knew what the harm was. They did it anyway,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson … | |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
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With Trump front of mind, New Hampshire voters cite abortion and ObamaCare as concerns (KFF Health News)
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Florida has low rate of nursing home residents getting new COVID shot (Tampa Bay Times)
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NYC issues public health advisory about social media, designates it an “environmental health toxin” due to its impact on kids (CBS News)
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Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets: |
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Suspected fake Ozempic linked to three US cases of hypoglycemia (Reuters)
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New chronic Covid study offers insight into which immunocompromised patients are most at risk (Stat)
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How a funding fight in Congress is endangering nutrition for pregnant people and babies (The 19th)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee and a key figure in getting bills passed through Congress, … Read more |
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Former President Trump appears to be on a glide path to the Republican nomination after the first two primary contests, but his victories in Iowa and … Read more |
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You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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