Nebraska lawmaker says some report pharmacists are refusing to fill gender-confirming prescriptions

Source: Associated Press

Nebraska lawmaker says some report pharmacists are refusing to fill gender-confirming prescriptions

BY MARGERY A. BECK
Updated 5:21 PM EDT, October 4, 2023

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker says her office has been contacted by families who have reported some pharmacists are wrongly refusing to fill prescriptions for gender-affirming medications for their transgender children, citing a new state law limiting the ability of anyone under 19 to get puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.

Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt sent a letter Wednesday to the state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, asking him to inform all Nebraska health care professionals — including pharmacists — that the new law specifically allows minors who were already receiving those medicines before the law took effect to continue that treatment.

The law, often referred to by its bill name of LB574, also bans gender-affirming surgeries for trans youth under 19. It took effect on Sunday.

“However, parents and patients inform me that they have been denied prescriptions essential for care that were prescribed prior to October 1, 2023,” Hunt’s letter reads. “Apparently, some Nebraska pharmacists are using LB574 to refuse to refill prescriptions issued by healthcare providers. Any disruption or delay in a prescribed regimen is inconsistent with the plain letter of LB 574 and is inconsistent with the medical standard of care for these patients.”

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-minors-nebraska-5abbec7ce8ca8d39d6d15b96b8d0bca8