A veteran pediatrician has lauded the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for their decision to end Medicaid funding for sex-change treatments and procedures for minors. Dr. Quentin Van Meter, immediate past president of the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), stated that these medical and surgical interventions are not appropriate for children experiencing gender dysphoria.
"This is not denial of care. This is not lack of compassion. This is not denial that these patients exist, as we are told that we are doing this," Van Meter said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "This is actually very compassionate, very appropriate, and has been scientifically proven to be of benefit to these children."
Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist with 42 years of experience, argued that puberty should not be treated as a disease and that interventions altering its course can worsen mental health issues in children. He believes the focus should be on mental health treatment to address the root causes of distress.
The policy shift by HHS and CMS comes as Van Meter described a perceived collapse in the medical framework supporting youth transgender treatments. He cited concerns including a federally funded study where researchers allegedly attempted to suppress findings after participants died by suicide, allegations questioning a prominent transgender medical authority, a rise in detransitioners, and the irreversible nature of sex-change procedures.
One study Van Meter referenced, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine the outcomes of sex-change hormones in children, reportedly saw three participants die by suicide by its second year. The study's investigators were accused of having conflicts of interest and attempting to conceal data indicating that puberty blockers did not improve mental health in children. A GOP-led Senate committee scrutinized this study in 2024, noting it also found 11 participants with suicidal thoughts.
Additionally, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), a key authority for pediatric sex-change guidelines, faces accusations in a Texas court case, joined by the Federal Trade Commission, of promoting ideology over evidence-based medicine.
Van Meter also noted a significant increase in individuals seeking to detransition, citing online support resources that reportedly receive hundreds of inquiries monthly. He personally encountered approximately 85 individuals seeking to detransition at a conference last March, indicating a population for whom these treatments have been detrimental.
Detransitioning is described as a complex process involving surgeries, medication weaning, and extensive mental health support. Van Meter warned that sex-change treatments can lead to severe and irreversible physical harm, including permanent sterilization, sexual dysfunction, diminished bone density, impaired brain development, and an increased risk of early dementia.
He suggested that the desire for sex-change procedures can sometimes arise in vulnerable children facing difficult life circumstances, such as parental divorce, substance abuse, or family loss, and may be influenced by online communities promoting transitions as a solution.
Beyond mental health access, Van Meter proposed systemic changes to transgender policies, including cutting federal funding for medical schools that promote research or teach sex-change procedures as standard care. He also suggested extending the statute of limitations for detransitioners to sue healthcare providers and auditing clinics for scientific transparency.