Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Releases New Rules on Minor Gender Care
STATEWIDE - The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has posted their new rules governing treatment of minors for conditions of gender dysphoria. According to posted statements on the department’s website, a large outcry was received in the form written letters to the department over how these rules may affect adult care. The OhioMHAS was quick to point out these rules only impact minors.
According to the new rules and definitions, the extent of ‘gender affirming care’ within the state has been narrowed to psychiatric services alone, except in certain circumstances. Doctors wishing to prescribe any sort of pharmaceutical hormone therapies will need to verify the patient has some sort of genetic disorder affecting their hormones through lab verified testing. Additional exemptions were given within the new rules for doctors who began hormone treatment of patients prior to the official adoption of the rules. According to the rules, all psychiatric services or others will require documentation of informed consent from both the minor and the guardians.
According to the Business Impact Analysis released, the OhioMHAS is releasing these new rules due to ‘a compelling government interest to protect the health and safety of its citizens, especially children.’ According to the analysis, the OhioMHAS wishes to ensure patients receive psychiatric evaluation and services before any major life changing decisions have been made. According to the Governor’s office, these new rules are separate from the recent law passed banning surgical organ removal and hormone drug prescriptions for minors, which will take effect in April.
