Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Legislation which mandates insurance companies that sell policies including coverage for medical gender transition procedures or services must also include coverage for de-transitioning passed on the Senate floor Monday afternoon.
SB0676 by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) also requires gender clinics and insurance entities to report information regarding de-transition procedures to the Tennessee Department of Health.
Taylor reiterated the bill does not violate any HIPPA laws and that all information to be reported regarding de-transitioners would be in the form of clinical data with nothing identifiable back to specific individuals or providers.
Several Democrats spoke against the measure, mainly objecting to the reporting components which they claimed were still privacy violations despite the additional safeguards added through House and Senate amendments to protect patient and provider anonymity.
“I think it’s bordering on living in a police state when you’re talking about trying to control these decisions which should be between a doctor and their client,” said. Sen. Heidi Campbell. “This hurts Tennesseans because it vilifies them, and it makes them seem like they are not normal, and that is painful and I do not support that. And I’m very sorry that we are doing things like this.”
In response, Taylor rebuked some seeming hypocrisy in the Democrats’ mentality, saying, “The party that is always for universal healthcare and for choice, they’re for choice, but only one way. They want choice when you move from the gender that you were born with to a different gender, but if you want to go back, the other party wants to stop that. I just find that curious.”
“There is no doubt that people are being harmed by transitions and not being able to de-transition back. If people in this state are being harmed, we have a duty that healthcare professionals should report that so that we know in cases of transition and de-transition where there could be instances of harm, we should know that, and that’s all this bill is doing,” Taylor continued.
The question was called on the bill after more back and forth, and the vote was 24-7 along party lines in favor of passage.
The House companion, HB0754, was passed 70-2 at the end of March, but the bill will return once more to that chamber as the Senate added an amendment not found in HB0754 allowing the state Attorney General to investigate any violations.
Should the House concur with the Senate’s amendment, it will then proceed to Gov. Lee for signature into law.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Good!