WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration finalized a sweeping new rule Tuesday that will prohibit federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program funding from being used for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments, and gender-transition surgeries for minors.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule, finalized Aug. 11, applies to children under 18 enrolled in Medicaid and individuals under 19 covered through CHIP. The restrictions are scheduled to take effect Oct. 13.
The policy does not make the procedures illegal nationwide. Instead, it prevents states from receiving federal matching dollars when Medicaid or CHIP pays for the covered treatments. States that choose to continue financing the procedures could potentially do so using state funds without receiving the federal contribution.
The administration has described the treatments as inadequately supported by scientific evidence and potentially harmful to children, while major medical organizations and transgender-rights advocates strongly dispute that characterization.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has been one of the administration’s most outspoken voices on the issue.
The administration first proposed the Medicaid restrictions in December, saying federal Medicaid funding should not be available for what CMS refers to as “sex-rejecting procedures” involving children under 18. The proposal applied the same restriction to CHIP coverage for patients under 19.
The final rule includes a transition period for some patients already undergoing hormone treatment. Federal funding may continue temporarily for existing patients while doctors oversee a medically appropriate transition off the medication. Reuters reported that the administration included a six-month transition period following the rule’s effective date.
Mental-health treatment for children experiencing gender dysphoria will remain eligible for Medicaid and CHIP coverage.
The rule also contains exceptions for certain medical conditions unrelated to gender transition, including some treatment involving congenital or intersex conditions and care necessary to address complications from previous procedures.
The administration estimates the change will reduce federal spending by roughly $235 million over 10 years. Medicaid and CHIP collectively provide health insurance to tens of millions of American children.
President Donald Trump has made restricting gender-transition procedures involving minors a central part of his administration’s domestic agenda.
Since returning to office, the administration has taken a series of steps aimed at limiting federal support for pediatric gender-transition treatments, including investigations involving hospitals and health-care providers and attempts to restrict federal funding connected to the procedures.
The administration argues that children should not undergo medical interventions with potentially permanent consequences before reaching adulthood and has pointed to growing scrutiny of pediatric gender-transition medicine in several European countries.
Opponents have accused the administration of improperly inserting the federal government into decisions that they say should remain between physicians, parents, and patients.
The American Medical Association has historically supported access to what it calls evidence-based gender-affirming care and has advocated for public and private insurance coverage of such treatment.
Other medical organizations and Democratic officials have also challenged the administration’s approach, arguing that the government is attempting to override accepted medical practices and discriminate against transgender patients. Legal challenges to the new rule are expected before its October implementation date.
At least 27 states had already stopped providing Medicaid coverage for gender-transition procedures involving children when the administration began pursuing the federal rule last year.
The practical impact in states that continue to permit the treatments could now become a question of who pays.
Under the new policy, states will have to decide whether to use their own taxpayers’ money to continue funding gender-transition procedures for minors through state health programs, or follow the federal government’s lead and end public financing for the treatments altogether.
Barring a successful court challenge, that decision will begin confronting states across the country when the rule takes effect Oct. 13.
Thank Christ / How mentally ill do you have to be to not agree with that
Chellie Pingree will probably be holding a protest vigil on the Supreme Court Steps in support of “ trans kids rights “
Her daughter Horrible Hanna, can have a face painting booth , where she and Sheena paint little rainbows on kids faces .
Troy Jackson can have a dunking booth where he throws bottles of water at people .
A splendid time is guaranteed for all .
Guess it’s time!!Stand up Maine,thank you President Donald Trump,wish the weirdo so called leaders in Maine would come to their senses!!!oh wait,the gov.&her pals don’t have any..