One of Australia’s biggest medical insurers has pulled insurance coverage for doctors in private practice prescribing hormonal treatment for children and adolescents.
MDA National, which has 54,000 health professional members, has also dropped cover for private specialists who face court claims if they deem under 18-year-olds as “suitable for gender transition.”
“We consider it appropriate that the assessment and initial prescribing for patients transitioning under the age of 18 years occurs with the support and management of a multi-disciplinary team in a hospital setting,” MDA National said in an email to affected doctors.
The MDA National decision, effective from July 1, is expected to affect about 100 practitioners Australia-wide, including general practitioners, paediatricians, and endocrinologists providing gender-transitioning treatments….