What’s on the ballot: Abortion, transgender care

What’s on the ballot: Abortion, transgender care

While affordability and health insurance costs have taken up much of the oxygen, voters in several states will weigh in on contentious health issues like abortion and transgender rights .

Transgender rights: Voters in four states—Washington, Nebraska, Arizona and Colorado— will consider proposals banning transgender student-athletes from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity.

Arizona already bans transgender student athletes, but the measure would increase the number of schools that the existing ban applies to; prohibit transgender students from using restrooms, locker room, showers not designated for their birth sex; no longer allow females or transgender boys to participate on a boys’ team.

Colorado’s measure also applies to boys and girls’ teams (most of the discourse around transgender student athletes involves a perceived threat from transgender girls or women).

A separate initiative in Colorado would ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors.

In Nebraska and Washington, the measures would apply to only girls’ teams. Nebraska law already prohibits trans students from competing in line with their gender identity; the measure would codify it into the constitution.

Washington’s measure would require all girls who want to play K-12 sports, regardless of if they are transgender, would need their sex verified by a physician through either genetic or hormone tests or an examination of her reproductive anatomy.

Missouri’s Amendment 3 would add language to the state’s constitution banning gender-affirming care for minors — something already illegal under state law.

Abortion access: In Missouri, the same anti-trans ballot measure would reverse another ballot measure passed just two years ago that added abortion rights language to the state’s constitution.

Unlike the law that was passed in the wake of the Dobbs decision in 2022, Amendment 3 includes limited exceptions for medical emergencies and fetal anomalies (birth defect or congenital disorder), and for survivors of rape or incest only up to the 12th week of pregnancy.

Nevada and Virginia voters will also be voting to amend their respective constitutions to guarantee abortion access to the point of fetal viability or afterwards in cases to protect the mother’s life.

Virginia is the only state in the South not to ban abortion at or before 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Nevada already passed abortion protections in the last election, but state law requires the measure to pass a second time .

In Idaho, Proposition 1 would reverse the state’s abortion ban and allow for pregnancies to be terminated until fetal viability. Idaho currently bans abortions at any point in the pregnancy, with exceptions for cases of rape or incest that have been reported to law enforcement or to protect the life of the mother.

Welcome to The Hill’s Healthcare newsletter , we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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How policy will be impacting the healthcare sector this week and beyond:

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Rising cancer rates and their potential link to farm pollution are causing a crisis in Iowa, throwing uncertainty into the midterm elections in a state that has shifted ruby-red in recent years. Iowa suffers from the second-highest rate of new cancer cases in the U.S., and it’s one of the few states where the number of cancer cases is rising. Across the state, the cancer crisis has become a major campaign topic. Candidates …

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

North Carolina, Massachusetts, New York report technical issues at polls

Multiple states including Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York have reported technical issues at the polls on Election Day.

Local and state headlines on healthcare:

S.C. grocery aid no longer covers candy, sodas, other sugary foods ( South Carolina Daily Gazette )

DEA begins issuing federal registrations to Texas medical marijuana dispensaries ( FOX 7 Austin )

‘Punched in the stomach’: Alabama family’s Blue Cross premium jumps to $51,000 a year ; Provider blames federal policies ( 1819 News )

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Why are Americans paying more for health insurance? Experts give 3 reasons ( PBS )

Flouting consumer law, insurers refuse to pay medical bills for emergency care ( New York Times )

A few miles from the US Capitol, dozens slept in their cars, waiting for free care ( KFF Health News )

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

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