Oregon's Future is in Your Hands
Can Public Comment Stop WPATH's Harmful Ideology?
Please send your email to Karen.J.Winkel@dcbs.oregon.gov
Here is a sample email you can use:
Email: Karen.J.Winkel@dcbs.oregon.gov
Subject: Public Comment on 2025 Gender-AffirmingTreatment Rule
Dear Karen Winkel,
I’m writing to submit a public comment to Oregon’s Insurance Commissioner about his proposed rules on gender-affirming treatment. These rules go way beyond what the legislature authorized last year in HB2002.
While HB2002 simply required insurers to cover “medically necessary” care prescribed by a licensed provider deferring clinical questions to the medical community, the Insurance Commissioner’s proposed rules go MUCH further. They define “accepted standard of care” as adherence to WPATH-8, a controversial document developed by transgender rights activists. Ascovered in the New York Times, Economist, The BMJ, and a briefing filed by the Alabama Attorney General with the US Supreme Court WPATH-8 is heavily influenced by a radical political agenda.
Neither the Insurance Commissioner nor his staff possess any medical expertise or licensure. Their agency regulates financial institutions not healthcare. Furthermore, no licensed health care professionals were included on the advisory committee that helped draft these rules – rules that now define a legally binding clinical standard of care for the practice of medicine regarding individuals experiencing gender distress.
In addition, while the Insurance Commissioner promised the legislature that he would use this new law to require insurers to pay for “detransition” services,the proposed rules are completely silent on this issue. Further, no detransitioners were included in the advisory group that helped write the rules.
Consider adding more from the “Key Points” page here or include your own personal story.
I appreciate your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Additional information for your email:
Please send your email to Karen.J.Winkel@dcbs.oregon.gov.
Then please email a copy to LGBTcouragecoalition@gmail.com.
Thank you for your comments. We corrected the email address and also made an edit to hopefully allow for you to simply cut and paste the sample letter. Appreciate your feedback as we strive to best serve you our readers and subscribers!
Thank you for alerting people to this action. I agree it is important, but I am flummoxed as to why you don't give a way for people to at least cut and paste your sample letter. This kind of action needs large numbers to even be noticed. Yes, individual communications are better, but only if they are sent! There is an aide whose job it is to make a count for his or her bosses. Not to carefully read each communication. Most people don't have time to do write their own email, create hyperlinks, weed through all the information and write a carefully tailored response. Even if you don't have a setup to make it a few clicks, please at least provide a sample letter people can copy.