“Cruelty and intimidation are the point, but we will not be deterred from continuing to fight for transgender youth across the country.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today released two long-awaited proposed rules from the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that would significantly limit access to medical care for transgender youth nationwide. One proposed regulation would prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being used to provide care to transgender youth under age 19. The other regulation would prohibit hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds from providing care to transgender youth under age 19. Sasha Buchert, Director of the Non-Binary and Transgender Rights Project at Lambda Legal, issued the following statement.
“The Trump administration, true to form, has doubled down on its attack on the health and well-being of transgender youth. In doing so, moreover, they in turn deliberately target affordable health care in general, holding hostage both hospitals and all who rely on Medicaid. Cruelty and intimidation are the point, but we will not be deterred from continuing to fight for transgender youth across the country.
“It is important to remember that these rules are not in effect today. They are merely proposals with a notice and comment process ahead, so we don’t even know what their final form will take. We encourage all to use the comment portals provided to let HHS know just how dangerous and cruel these proposed regulations are, and how unconscionable it is for this administration to hold affordable critical healthcare hostage – all in service of this Administration’s campaign to erase transgender people from existence.”