Ohio will not restrict treatment for trans adults under new rules from Gov. DeWine

Ohio will not restrict medical treatment for transgender adults, but a plan from Gov. Mike DeWine's administration would still dictate the care children receive (Source: “Gov. Mike DeWine scraps rules on health care for trans adults, but kids still affected,” Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 7).

State health officials unveiled changes on Wednesday to rules that DeWine put forward after vetoing House Bill 68. The proposals would ban Ohio hospitals and surgical facilities from performing gender transition surgery on minors and regulate the treatment of kids with gender dysphoria.

Another measure would require providers to report data on gender dysphoria diagnoses and treatment. The information would exclude patient names, addresses and other identifying details.

Under the new rules, providers would no longer be required to have care plans reviewed by a medical ethicist, which critics said are in short supply. The measure also expanded what qualifies as a mental health provider to address "concerns about the limited availability of certain medical specialties," health officials said. But limiting the rules to children and teens was by far the biggest change.