The Medical University of South Carolina has caved into political pressure once again, leaving hundreds of transgender South Carolinians on the brink of losing care.
This week news broke that the Medical University of South Carolina will stop providing transition-related medical care for transgender people of all ages, including adults. The administration at MUSC says that it is complying with the passage of H.4624, which includes a provision prohibiting public funds from being used to support gender-affirming care for transgender people of any age. MUSC has said they will stop accepting new trans patients for transition-related care as of August 1, 2024, and that transition-related care for all trans patients will cease before January 31, 2025.
The SC Daily Gazette reported this week: “Only a small portion of MUSC’s funding comes from state coffers. Of the hospital’s $5.9 billion budget in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, $176.4 million came from the state, according to the university’s annual financial report.”
The decision from MUSC applies the most conservative interpretation possible on H.4624, once again leaving transgender patients and their family members in peril. The choice is reminiscent of MUSC’s response to a 2022 budget proviso requiring them to stop providing gender-affirming care to people 15 and under; MUSC instead ceased providing this care to all people under the age of 18, a clear example of overcompliance.
Chase Glenn, Executive Director of the Alliance for Full Acceptance and a leader in the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition (he/him pronouns), said today:
“We are outraged by MUSC’s over-interpretation of the law, caving once again to the political pressures of the SC legislature. This overcompliance is exactly the outcome that extreme legislators wanted: a confusing legal environment that intimidates medical professionals into ceasing care for all transgender people. But our community will not be intimidated or bullied out of getting the care we need and deserve – and we are honored to support folks who are navigating this crisis.”
When H.4624 became law, Campaign for Southern Equality and Alliance for Full Acceptance launched a new resource to help transgender adults navigate any issues that arose from the broad provisions of the law that also impact adults. This includes a hotline that adults can write into for support in identifying a new provider that is not impacted by H.4624. CSE and AFFA have implemented “patient care funds” in partnership with several clinics across the state; those patient care funds will support the costs of an initial appointment for adults denied care by MUSC. South Carolinians who need support should contact us at www.southernequality.org/SCHealthcareHelp.
Through the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project, Campaign for Southern Equality – in partnership with We Are Family, Uplift Outreach Center, and Harriet Hancock Center – is also supporting the families of transgender youth who lost access to gender-affirming care in South Carolina, under H.4624. Families can access patient navigation services to out-of-state care and $500 emergency grants by visiting www.southernequality.org/scresources.
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