Dusty Johnson U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Dusty Johnson U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district | Official U.S. House Headshot
U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson has introduced a bill titled the No 340B Savings for Transgender Care Act, aiming to restrict the use of savings from the 340B drug program for transgender surgeries and hormone replacement therapies. Johnson stated, "Transgender surgeries do not qualify as essential, life-saving health care." He emphasized that low-income families and rural communities depend on programs like 340B for their healthcare needs.
Riley Gaines, known for her advocacy against transgender males competing in women's sports, supported the bill. She remarked, "The 340B program was created to help safety net providers deliver vital healthcare services to America’s most vulnerable communities," but expressed concern that it is being used to fund what she described as elective procedures under gender-affirming care. Gaines praised Johnson's leadership in protecting the integrity of the program.
The proposed legislation would prevent entities participating in the 340B program from using their savings on transgender services, including sex reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments intended for gender alteration.
The bill is cosponsored by several U.S. Representatives: Austin Scott (R-GA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Mike Ezell (R-MS), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Barry Moore (R-AL), and John Rose (R-TN).
Background information highlights that Congress established the 340B program to aid safety-net providers by allowing them to purchase outpatient drugs at discounted prices. This enables these entities to allocate more resources towards community services rather than full-priced medications. However, there are concerns about misuse of this program for promoting gender ideology.
An example cited is Howard Brown Health in Chicago, which uses its 340B status to fund hormone therapy and other related services.
Gaines is a former NCAA All-American swimmer who competed against Lia Thomas, a trans-identifying male swimmer, at the NCAA championships in 2022. Her experiences have fueled her advocacy against men participating in women's sports and spaces.
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