House Bill No. 5424, introduced by the Committee on Public Health, is designed to safeguard health care providers from negative repercussions by health care entities when they offer gender-affirming and reproductive health care services. The bill defines these services and specifies who qualifies as a health care provider. It prohibits health care entities from restricting providers from delivering comprehensive, medically accurate information and counseling on these services, provided the provider is acting in good faith, within their scope of practice, and according to the accepted standard of care. The bill also protects providers from discrimination by health care entities for providing such services and information.

The legislation further stipulates that health care entities with emergency departments cannot prevent providers from offering reproductive health care services related to pregnancy complications if withholding such services would contravene the standard of care or endanger the patient's life or health. While the bill prohibits discriminatory actions against providers, it allows for peer reviews and mandates compliance with network or utilization review requirements and established health care quality and patient safety guidelines. The bill, which does not have fiscal implications for the state or municipalities, is set to take effect on July 1, 2024, and has passed the Public Health Committee with a vote of 28 Yea to 9 Nay.