Overview
- The coalition of 19 states and Washington, D.C., filed suit Dec. 23 in the U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon, naming HHS, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Inspector General Thomas March Bell, and the OIG.
- The complaint targets a Dec. 18 declaration and proposed rules that would tie Medicare and Medicaid participation to hospitals declining puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical transition care for minors.
- Plaintiffs argue the move exceeds statutory authority, violates the Administrative Procedure Act and Medicare/Medicaid laws, and creates immediate operational and financial risk for providers.
- HHS has referred Seattle Children’s Hospital to its Office of Inspector General for investigation over transgender youth care policies, signaling enforcement steps even as rulemaking remains unfinished.
- The public comment period on the proposals is open, major medical groups including the AMA have criticized the approach, and some hospitals scaled back youth programs earlier this year under federal pressure.