A Change in Care: Hospitals React to New Guidelines in Washington, D. C.

Suddenly a storm of disruption hit the healthcare world. At its center? A new directive from the White House that some hospitals are struggling to navigate. Hospitals in Colorado, Virginia, and the nation’s capital have hit the pause button on gender-affirming care for young people under 19. Why? They are reviewing an executive order from the Trump administration. The order aims to cut federal support for such care. Think of it as a game of freeze tag, where hospitals are frozen in place until they sort out what this new order means for them. Denver Health in Colorado has stopped providing gender-affirming surgeries for those under 19. They are trying to understand the order and stay eligible for federal funding. The hospital remains mum on whether other gender-affirming care, like hormone therapy and puberty blockers, will continue. The situation is similar in Virginia, as VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond have also suspended these procedures and medications for youth. In Washington, D. C. , Children’s National Hospital has temporarily halted prescriptions of puberty blockers and hormone therapy. But they haven’t been doing gender-affirming surgeries on minors, so they have not changed that particular practice. Trump’s order involves reversing policies meant to protect transgender people and their care. Transgender youth care is not widespread. A recent study shows that less than 1 in 1, 000 U. S. adolescents with commercial insurance received puberty blockers or hormones. The bulk of gender-affirming surgeries are not performed on youth. Denver Health says the order will affect the mental health of transgender patients. But they promise to keep providing primary and behavioral health care. Denver Health is deeply concerned for the health and safety of their gender diverse patients under 19. Trump’s order uses strong, alarming language, labeling guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health as “junk science. ” WPATH has responded with a statement. They call restrictions and bans on access to necessary medical care for transgender youth harmful to patients and their families. So, what is gender-affirming care? It’s medical care for transgender youth. The Trump administration wants to cut federal support for it. It’s a big change and it’s causing a lot of confusion. The future of this care in the U. S. is uncertain. This change leaves many questions unanswered. Will hospitals continue to provide this care? How will it affect transgender youth and their families? Will more hospitals follow suit and pause their care? Will there be a shift in federal funding? The answers are still unclear.