Committee advances bill requiring detransition services and reporting, with insurance mandate if transition was covered

The Population Health Subcommittee voted 6-3-1 to advance a bill that would require clinics providing gender transition services to offer detransition care, increase transparency and reporting for clinics, and require insurers that covered transition care to also cover detransition services.

Sponsor Chairman Faison told the committee the bill addresses people who later decide to reverse a gender transition and said the measure’s goals are fourfold: require clinics that provide transition services to also provide detransition services, increase transparency and reporting for such clinics, acknowledge gender dysphoria in statute and require insurance policies issued or renewed after the effective date to include coverage for transition and detransition procedures.

During committee questioning Representative Clemens pressed the sponsor on whether the bill applies only to clinics that receive state funding. Chairman Faison replied the intent is to target clinics that perform gender transition work “whether they're privately or publicly funded.” Representative Clemens and others repeatedly sought clarification about whether the bill would impose financial obligations on clinics that merely receive any state funds; the sponsor said the bill is geared toward clinics that specifically perform gender transition services.

Medical testimony in support came from a witness identified as Doctor K. Moore, who said the bill would “protect people who are going through very difficult times in their life” by ensuring access to medical, surgical and mental health care should they later wish to detransition.

Representative Travis, who identified himself as an insurance industry veteran, objected to imposing mandates on insurers. The sponsor said the insurance requirement applies only where a policy paid for the transition services; it would not force an insurer to retroactively cover a person who no longer holds the policy that paid for the transition.

After discussion the committee called the question and recorded a final vote of 6 ayes, 3 nos and 1 present not voting. The bill will be considered next by the full Health Committee.

The committee record shows the bill as advanced; committee members asked for additional data about how many clinics receive state funds and how reporting requirements would be implemented; the sponsor said licensing and agency oversight questions remain to be worked out.