HHS has denied a report that the agency is planning to abandon the proposed rule to block Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to pediatric patients.
NPR reported July 13 the news agency had obtained an official document showing details of the reversal.
In a July 14 statement on X, however, HHS said the claim was “completely inaccurate and unfounded.”
“The Department has not withdrawn or reversed course on the ‘Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Hospital Condition of Participation: Prohibiting Sex-Rejecting Procedures for Children’ rule,” the agency’s statement said. “HHS and CMS continue to follow statutory requirements by reviewing comments and we intend to issue a final rule.”
While a federal judge struck down the HHS funding threat in March, the ruling did not clear a path for hospitals to resume such services.
HHS proposed the rule in December to end Medicare and Medicaid payments for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-related surgeries.
CMS also proposed a rule to prohibit Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program from covering gender-affirming care for children younger than 18 and 19 years old, respectively. The public comment period for both rules closed in February, but HHS has not issued final rules.
