Overview
- Children's Wisconsin and UW Health have halted prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to patients under 18 while continuing mental and behavioral health services.
- The decisions follow HHS proposals announced in December to condition Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP participation on hospitals ending gender-affirming treatments for minors.
- Families report uncertainty about whether existing patients can continue care, with some saying they learned of the changes through media rather than direct hospital communication.
- Fitchburg Family Pharmacy says it will continue prescribing and dispensing puberty blockers and other hormone therapies for youth.
- Wisconsin has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the federal rules, and the American Academy of Pediatrics maintains support for access to gender-affirming care.