An amended bill banning “conversion therapy” now also proposes outlawing the use of Medicaid for gender-affirming healthcare for transgender Kentuckians, according to the Courier Journal.

On Wednesday, March 12, Republican Rep. David Hale of Kentucky amended House Bill 495 to ban Medicaid funds from paying for gender-affirming hormones or surgery for transgender adults.

Gov. Andy Beshear originally signed an executive order on Sept. 18, 2024, that banned “conversion therapy” for minors in the Commonwealth.

HB495 overturned Beshear’s executive order, adding to the existing ban of “conversion therapy,” the ban of Medicaid use for gender-affirming health care.

The bill has background information describing what constitutes gender-affirming healthcare.

“Cross-sex hormones in amounts greater than would normally be produced endogenously in a healthy person of the same age and sex,” the bill said. “Gender reassignment surgery to alter or remove physical or anatomical characteristics or features that are typical for and characteristics of a person’s biological sex.”

According to the Courier Journal, Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign, spoke with Republican Sen. Stephen Meredith of Kentucky, chair of the Senate Standing Committee Health Services, about his concerns about the bill.

“What you are doing now is denying life-saving medical healthcare to an untold number of Kentuckians without debate this late in the game because folks don’t want to have this debate,” Hartman said. “You will cost lives. This was not the original intent of this bill at all. I’m disappointed Mr. Chairman.”

The bill was passed by the committee in a 6-3 vote. Democratic Sen. Keturah Herron, Democratic Sen. Karen Berg and Republican Sen. Danny Carroll, all of Kentucky, voted against the bill.

The bill is now headed to the Senate for a full floor vote.