Prohibiting discrimination or retaliation against health care providers by health care entities and credentialing boards for ordering or discussing innovative or novel therapies.
Impact
The impact of AB609 is anticipated to reshape the regulatory landscape for health care practice in Wisconsin, particularly concerning innovative medical treatments. By prohibiting retaliation against health care providers for exploring new therapeutic options, the bill aims to foster a more open atmosphere for discussions around novel therapies. This could lead to improved patient outcomes as providers may feel more empowered to suggest alternatives that have not previously been considered permissible under fear of professional repercussions.
Summary
Assembly Bill 609 (AB609) seeks to protect health care providers from discrimination or retaliation by health care entities and credentialing boards for ordering or discussing innovative or novel therapies. The bill specifically defines the conditions under which a health care provider may order such therapies, stipulating that this can occur if based on the patient's assessment and clinical data. The bill further ensures that providers are not restricted from informing patients about therapies that may benefit them, thus enhancing patient autonomy and informed choice in treatment decisions.
Contention
Notably, AB609 has generated debate regarding its provisions related to gender transition therapies. While it encourages innovation in treatment, it explicitly excludes any therapies aimed at delaying or suppressing pubertal development in minors for gender transition purposes. This exclusion has prompted discussions among advocates for transgender youth and health care providers, raising concerns that the bill could limit access to necessary care for some individuals, thereby sparking a broader conversation on the implications of legislative boundaries in health care decisions.
Prohibiting discrimination or retaliation against health care providers by health care entities and credentialing boards for ordering or discussing innovative or novel therapies.
Enacting the help not harm act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare providers from providing gender transition care to children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments, requiring professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians.
House Substitute for SB 233 by Committee on Health and Human Services - Enacting the forbidding abuse child transitions act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare providers from treating children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments, requiring professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians and nurses.
Relating to prohibited retaliation against a physician or health care provider for reporting certain violations or taking certain actions with respect to the provision of health care services; providing a civil remedy.
Relating to prohibited retaliation against a physician or health care provider for reporting certain violations or taking certain actions with respect to the provision of health care services; providing a civil remedy.