MassEquality Responds to Proposed Rules to Limit Access to Gender Affirming Care
Boston, MA — MassEquality strongly opposes proposed rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would undermine access to medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender youth and penalize hospitals for providing those services.
The proposed rules would require that not only block Medicaid and CHiP funding for gender affirming care for youth but would also restrict hospitals providers who offer gender affirming care from participating in both Medicaid and Medicare. These two rules would have catastrophic consequences for not only transgender young people, but for people seeking every type of healthcare. These proposed changes represent a dangerous step backward in federal health policy, disregarding decades of medical consensus and placing politics over patient well-being. Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, lifesaving health care supported by every major medical association in the United States.
“We cannot afford to allow these changes to go through, said Tanya Neslusan, Executive Director at MassEquality. “It is not the business of the government to decide what type of care that patients need. That is a decision that should be made by healthcare providers, patients, and their caregivers.”
If finalized, the HHS and CMS proposals could limit coverage, restrict provider participation, and create confusion and fear for patients seeking care they need to survive and thrive.
MassEquality urges HHS and CMS to withdraw these proposed rules and instead reaffirm their commitment to nondiscrimination, bodily autonomy, and equitable access to comprehensive health care. We also call on Massachusetts’ congressional delegation, state leaders, and health care providers to speak out forcefully against these harmful proposals. MassEquality will continue to work with partners, advocates, and policymakers to defend access to gender-affirming care and ensure that all people, regardless of gender identity or expression—can access health care with dignity and respect. Please stay tuned for action alerts with information about how you can fight back.