MU Health Care to stop prescribing puberty blockers to current minor patients

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A spokesman for MU Health Care told ABC 17 News on Tuesday that it will stop prescribing puberty blockers to current minor patients.

The action comes after a new law banning gender-affirming care for Missouri youth went into effect on Monday. The spokesman for MU said other forms of gender-affirming care could still be provided.

“Health care providers face significant legal liability for prescribing or administering cross-sex hormones or puberty-blockings drugs to existing minor patients under the new cause of action,” MU Health Care spokesman Eric Maze wrote in an email. “MU Health Care providers may continue to provide other types of gender affirming care that is not impacted by the law.”

Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent a letter on Monday to Missouri health providers telling them to cease any treatments that might violate the law. No Mid-Missouri healthcare providers were on the list.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer's ruling on Friday allowed the ban to start Monday, as was previously scheduled.

Senate Bill 49, also called the "Missouri Save Adolescents From Experimentation" Act, doesn't allow anyone younger than 18 years old to receive any surgeries, puberty blockers or hormone therapies that aide in transitioning genders. This case is still set to go to trial. The next hearing is Sept. 22.