Washington, DC — A rule finalized by the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) threatens to restrict access to safe, proven, and medically necessary gender-affirming care for low-income young people enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.
“Targeting gender-affirming care is part of this administration’s attacks on trans people and bodily autonomy broadly. It disregards decades of research proving that gender-affirming care is safe, effective, and medically necessary,” said Sarah Somers, Legal Director at the National Health Law Program (NHeLP). “Blocking access to gender affirming care will cause incalculable harm to trans and nonbinary youth.”
The rule bans use of federal funds for many services provided as gender-affirming health care for people under age 18 in Medicaid and people enrolled in CHIP under age 19. The final rule does not ban gender-affirming care related services, but it will make it more difficult for low-income people to access needed care.
“Trans people have always existed and will always exist,” said Wayne Turner, Senior Attorney at NHeLP. “Attacks on trans people are not rooted in science—they are based on cruelty, fear mongering, and reactive attempts to strip bodily autonomy from people just trying to live their lives. But queer and trans people will not be erased.”
NHeLP and partners are reviewing the final rule and will provide further analysis in the coming days and weeks. The final rule is expected to go into effect in October.
