The Florida Health Department recently rejected a call to expand Medicaid coverage for those who wish to seek experimental “gender-affirming care,” which includes puberty blockers and physical “reassignment” procedures, because of the harmful long-term effects. So-called experts, however, say Florida’s decision is unscientific.

Florida’s program would exclude puberty blockers, hormonal therapy, “gender reassignment” surgeries, such as mastectomies and penectomies, and “any other procedures that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics” from state-sanctioned Medicaid coverage. These treatments, the state argued, are not medically necessary to treat gender dysphoria.