Trump Admin Proposes Gender-Affirming Care Bans

OUR STATEMENT

Today the Trump Administration released two proposed rules intentionally designed to make gender affirming care for young people impossible to access. In one rule, federal Medicaid reimbursement is banned for medical care provided to transgender patients under 18 and prohibits reimbursements through CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) for transgender patients under 19. In the other rule, the administration is planning to block all Medicaid and Medicare funding for services at hospitals that provide gender affirming to young people.

Dr. Jamila Perritt, ob/gyn in Washington DC and President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health responds: 
 
“Today’s proposed rules are a deliberate and targeted attack on transgender youth, their families, and the clinicians committed to providing patients the care they need. In an effort to strongarm hospitals into participating in the administration’s anti-LGBTQ agenda, the Trump Administration is forcing health care systems to choose between providing lifesaving care for LGBTQ+ young people and accepting crucial federal funding. This is a lose-lose situation where lives are inevitably on the line. 

“Gender affirming care is lifesaving care. Transgender people of all ages, just like their cisgender counterparts, are deserving and worthy of compassionate care responsive to their health care needs and respectful of their identity. Health care is a basic human right, and no one should ever be denied health care because of who they are.  

“Physicians for Reproductive Health is made up of physician advocates proud to provide comprehensive health care, including gender affirming care. We are committed to fighting for a world where transgender people of all ages can access the health care they need, free from barriers, stigma or shame.”