Overview
- The proposals would bar hospitals that provide puberty blockers, hormones, or surgeries to patients under 18 from participating in Medicare and Medicaid, and would prohibit Medicaid and CHIP coverage of such care for minors.
- HHS opened a 60-day public comment period on the rules, citing its recent review that found limited evidence for pediatric gender medicine as the basis for the action.
- FDA officials said warning letters were sent to chest-binder companies over marketing claims, and the NIH director signaled an end to funding for gender-transition research.
- Pediatricians and hospital leaders warn the policy would force a choice between federal program revenue and continuing youth gender-related services, with some systems already pausing or changing care.
- Civil-rights groups including the ACLU plan court challenges, Minnesota officials pledged to defend providers, and the U.S. House passed separate bills targeting youth transition care that face uncertain prospects in the Senate.