Summary
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new rules to stop federal funding for gender-affirming healthcare for minors. These rules aim to restrict treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender children. Many U.S. states already have similar bans, but these new rules could affect access in states where such care is still legal.
Key Facts
- The Department of Health and Human Services announced new regulations.
- The rules seek to ban gender-affirming care for minors in the U.S.
- Treatments affected include puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries.
- The plan involves cutting federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that offer this care to minors.
- Federal Medicaid dollars would not be used for these procedures.
- The Health Secretary called these procedures "malpractice" for children.
- Over half of the U.S. states already limit or ban gender-affirming care.
- The new rules could impact nearly two dozen states where this care is still permitted and funded.
