The Federal Attack Against Healthcare for Transgender Youth Continues. RMEQ Response to HHS Proposed Rules.

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced several actions across divisions that, if finalized, would limit the accessibility of gender-affirming care for transgender youth. As of today, all services that were being offered are not affected.

Among them are two proposed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rules. One prohibits Medicaid and CHIP coverage of any gender-affirming healthcare for youth. Another will withhold Medicaid or Medicare funding from hospitals that provide hormonal or surgical gender-affirming care for youth.

Also proposed is a revision to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that would prohibit transgender people from being considered eligible for protections and reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This would also allow for the denial of services related to the two CMS rules. 

In response to these announcements, Mardi Moore, chief executive officer at Rocky Mountain Equality, said: 

“The idea that Robert Kennedy and Dr. Oz, who have no medical expertise and have been discredited, are questioning and condemning the judgement of real medical providers and families is disgusting. They don’t know what they are talking about and are putting lives at risk in this rulemaking and other guidance on critical public health initiatives like vaccination."

“We will not stand by while the federal government attempts to forcefully strip the rights and freedoms of anyone in Colorado to make their own medical decisions. Rocky Mountain Equality will continue to fight to ensure that all people, regardless of gender identity, can access the care they need without fear, stigma, or government interference. It’s what we all deserve.” 

In response to these announcements, Bruce Parker, chief operating officer at Rocky Mountain Equality, said:

“Parents of all kids, especially trans kids, have the difficult task of not only preparing their kids for the world, but also preparing the world for their kids. This administration is determined to make both tasks as difficult as possible."

“We have been preparing for this news for months, but today’s announcement is even more far reaching than we expected. The federal administration’s continued assaults on the freedom of transgender youth and their families is cruel, illegal, and not based on any credible science. These moves to cut off federal funding to hospitals and to prohibit Medicaid coverage of services represent a dangerous escalation in the government’s ongoing campaign against trans people and LGBTQ communities. They also remove anti-discrimination protections to make it easier for care to be denied."

“Decisions about any medical care should be made between a patient, their family, and their medical providers. The federal government has no place inserting politics into private healthcare decisions."

“This is part of a broader pattern of federal overreach, stripping states and providers of their ability to provide healthcare to meet the needs of their residents and patients administer healthcare programs like Medicaid according to the needs of their residents. Colorado has chosen to cover medically necessary gender-affirming care in part because politicians in Washington D.C. cannot be allowed to make decisions about healthcare for any family in Colorado.”