LGBTQ+ advocacy group Georgia Equality is urging voters to message their House Representative after the State Senate voted to approve an amendment restricting transgender medical care.
HB 54, which Georgia Equality describes as a “previously good bill,” was amended by the State Senate on Feb. 10 to include a ban on medical care for transgender Georgians, including youth and those of all ages covered by the State Employee Health Benefit Plan. The State Employee Health Benefit Plan currently covers over half a million Georgians.
“Because of this unprecedented backdoor maneuver, Georgians were not given any opportunity to review the amendment language or to provide testimony,” the organization said. “…The government shouldn’t be able to overrule a person’s decision to seek health care for themselves and their families– whether they are transgender or not. HB 54 as amended would open the door for politicians to meddle in anyone’s private medical decisions, establishing a dangerous precedent.”
Georgia Equality called for social media followers to message their House Representatives to encourage them to oppose the Senate’s amendments.
Prior to the amendment, the bill covered home healthcare services, education surrounding death certificates, and tax credits for qualified caregiving expenses to include advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants.
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