The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Tuesday that Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will cease funding for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change surgeries for minors. This decision aligns with the Trump administration's stated commitment to protect children from experimental procedures with serious long-term health risks and insufficient clinical evidence.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz stated that the move is consistent with the administration's goal to safeguard children from what he described as "experimental and life-altering sex-rejecting procedures." He emphasized that the federal government will no longer use taxpayer funds for interventions that do not meet a sufficient evidentiary standard.
The decision was informed by a review of national and international research, including the United Kingdom's Cass Review. This review concluded that research on medical interventions for gender dysphoria in minors is limited and that the speed of medical advancements has outpaced evidence of safety and efficacy.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that these interventions carry serious risks and can cause irreversible harm, including infertility, impaired sexual function, diminished bone density, and altered brain development. The policy change aims to protect children from potentially irreversible harm and save taxpayer dollars.
Mental health treatments for gender dysphoria and related conditions will continue to be covered by Medicaid and CHIP. The rule includes a six-month tapering-off period for children currently receiving hormone treatments, during which funding will continue from the new rule's effective date.