Federal Judge Rules Florida Restrictions on Gender Dysphoria Treatments Unconstitutional and Violate Federal Laws

A federal judge in Florida has ruled that the state’s restrictions on Medicaid coverage for gender dysphoria treatments are invalid and violate federal laws. The ruling, handed down Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, affects potentially thousands of transgender people in the state.

The ruling struck down a Florida health code rule and a new state law that blocked Medicaid payment for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for the treatment of gender dysphoria. Judge Hinkle said the laws violated federal laws on Medicaid, equal protection and the Affordable Care Act’s prohibition of sex discrimination.

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Florida, and the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of four transgender people and the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The lawsuit argued that the state’s restrictions on gender dysphoria treatments violated the U.S. Constitution and federal laws.

In his ruling, Judge Hinkle said the state had chosen to block payment for some treatments “for political reasons” using a biased and unscientific process. He also noted that the state had not provided any evidence that the treatments were medically unnecessary or that they posed a risk to the health of patients.

The ruling is a victory for transgender people in Florida, who have long fought for access to gender dysphoria treatments. It is also a reminder that the state must adhere to federal laws when it comes to providing healthcare to its citizens.