An Anchorage podiatrist, Dr. Matt Heilala, led the State Medical Board to approve a proposal reclassifying gender-affirming treatments for trans minors — including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries — as "unprofessional conduct." If finalized, the change would allow the board to enforce sanctions such as fines or loss of licensure while imposing no similar restrictions on care for cisgender people. The rule must undergo legal review and a 30-day public comment period before a final vote. Board members' clinical experience caring for transgender patients is unclear after a spokesperson declined to disclose that information citing "concerns with HIPAA." HIPAA does not prevent clinicians from disclosing patient demographics or diagnoses. Psychologist Dr. Kevin Tarlow said professionals should state their expertise so consumers can evaluate care.
The Board unanimously approved a proposal last week spearheaded by Dr. Matt Heilala, of Anchorage, to move towards eradicating gender-affirming health care for trans minors by reclassifying such treatments-such as puberty blockers, hormone treatments and surgeries-as "unprofessional conduct." If finalized, this would also give the board broad discretion over the enforcement and "sanctions" doled out, such as fines or loss of licensure. No such restrictions are proposed for the care of cisgender people.
The rule must still undergo a legal review followed by a 30-day public comment period, after which a final vote would determine whether the provision will be enacted. "I think it will be pretty impactful," Heilala told the Anchorage Daily News ahead of the vote. Heilala, a podiatrist, does not appear to have any clinical expertise in treating gender dysphoria.
When Erin in the Morning requested information about whether any of the Board members-a general surgeon, a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist, a primary care physician, and a commercial pilot-had any experience serving trans patients, or had any professional training on gender dysphoria at all, a spokesperson declined to disclose due to "concerns with HIPAA." However, HIPAA, the gold standard of federal privacy law, does not prevent doctors from disclosing the demographics or diagnoses they have worked with.
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