Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said he would try to deliver an opinion “as quick as I can” on law and rules prohibiting the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy to treat children for gender dysphoria.

Physicians will be able to renew orders for puberty blockers and hormone therapy children and adults as long as no changes are made to the prescriptions. The Board of Medicine previously approved the rule.

The bill now will go to the House, where it is expected to pass.

The families of four children in St. Johns, Alachua, Duval and Orange counties say the ban singles out transgender minors and blocks them from obtaining medically necessary care.

The House version of the proposal would extend the ban to children already receiving treatments. It would also stop insurance companies from covering gender-affirming surgeries for transgender adults.

The bill, among other things, would make it a felony for doctors or other health-care professionals to order puberty blockers, hormone treatment or surgery for transgender minors.

They are the latest in a series of moves by lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration aimed at transgender people.

The policy backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo relies on one key statistic that many experts question.

The board originally listed an incorrect email address where people can submit comments. The public now has until Dec. 28 to share feedback about the proposal, which would restrict access to gender-affirming care for trans youth.

The rules approved Friday would prohibit doctors from prescribing puberty-blocking, hormone and hormone “antagonist” treatments for patients under age 18. The rules would not apply to children already receiving such treatments.

Members of the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine joint committee voted on a draft rule that would restrict doctors from providing treatments to trans people under age 18.

A joint committee of Florida's Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine will discuss a draft rule that could restrict doctors from providing transgender treatments to people younger than 18.