Medicaid to Stop Paying for Some Gender-Affirming Care for Youth
The Trump administration has announced that Medicaid will stop paying for gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for transgender minors, effective October 13.
Medicaid is set to stop covering certain gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth. The policy change, announced by the Trump administration, will affect Medicaid and the state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The policy will take effect on October 13. However, it is unclear how this change will impact taxpayer funding for gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) did not respond to questions about the policy.
Currently, at least 27 states have banned gender-affirming care for those under 18. Even in states without such bans, many major hospitals have stopped providing some of the treatments. Gender-affirming surgeries for minors are rare, but puberty blockers and hormone treatments are more common.
The policy will continue to cover mental health treatment for transgender minors but will phase out coverage of hormone treatments for those already receiving them by April 2027.
President Trump has stated that he directed the CMS administrator, Mehmet Oz, MD, to make this change. Trump said in a social media post that he is not willing to pay for "barbaric surgeries and practices" that result in "unthinkable and irreversible harm" to young bodies.
However, advocates for LGBTQ+ young people disagree with the policy. Josh Rovenger, legal director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, said that the rule "is putting up barriers between parents and their ability to make the best medical decisions for their children." Rovenger also stated that this policy will face a legal challenge.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President, Kelley Robinson, said that the Trump administration is "terrorizing trans youth and their families with these kinds of actions, and it has to stop." The HRC is already suing the administration for efforts to bar gender-affirming care coverage under federal employee benefit plans.
Most major medical organizations support access to gender-affirming care. However, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has stated that it found "insufficient evidence" that the benefits of chest, genital, and facial surgeries on minors experiencing gender dysphoria outweigh the risks.
The Trump administration has already announced several other policies aimed at transgender people, including cutting off Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for minors, barring transgender athletes from sports competitions for girls and women, and blocking people from being able to choose male, female, or X to designate their sex on passports.
Many of these changes have faced legal challenges. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed some of the policies to stand, while lower courts have ruled against others.
Mental Health Treatment for Transgender Minors
The policy change will continue to cover mental health treatment for transgender minors. This is in contrast to the phase-out of coverage for hormone treatments.
Legal Challenges Ahead
The policy change is likely to face a legal challenge. Advocates for LGBTQ+ young people have already spoken out against the policy, and the HRC is already suing the administration for efforts to bar gender-affirming care coverage under federal employee benefit plans.
Medical Organizations Weigh In
Most major medical organizations support access to gender-affirming care. However, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has stated that it found "insufficient evidence" that the benefits of chest, genital, and facial surgeries on minors experiencing gender dysphoria outweigh the risks.
Timeline of Policy Changes
| Policy | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| Medicaid and CHIP stop paying for gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for transgender minors | October 13 |
| Phase-out of coverage for hormone treatments for those already receiving them | April 2027 |
The Trump administration's policy change is the latest in a series of actions aimed at transgender people. The policy change will likely face a legal challenge, and advocates for LGBTQ+ young people are speaking out against the policy.
Source: MedPage Today