Medicaid to Stop Paying for Some Gender-Affirming Care for Youth

The Trump administration is set to alter Medicaid policies, ceasing to cover gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for transgender minors under the age of 19, starting October 13th. This announcement follows a series of policies targeting transgender individuals since Trump's return to office last year. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have not disclosed the current funding status for these treatments.

Twenty-seven states have already prohibited gender-affirming care for those under 18, and many prominent hospitals have halted certain treatments. However, puberty blockers and hormone therapies remain more prevalent. The policy aims to continue covering mental health treatment for transgender minors but gradually phase out hormone therapies, which are used both to prevent puberty and induce sex-related physical changes.

Trump expressed his opposition in a social media post, deeming these practices "barbaric" and harmful to young bodies. LGBTQ+ advocates, however, view this rule as a barrier for parents making medical decisions for their children, likely to face legal challenges. The Human Rights Campaign and the American Medical Association support access to gender-affirming care, despite some medical organizations expressing concerns about the benefits and risks of such surgeries for minors.