The Trump administration on Thursday escalated its whole-of-government assault on the controversial field of pediatric gender medicine, announcing pending federal regulation that would bar hospitals from receiving Medicaid or Medicare funding if they provide gender-transition treatments or surgeries to minors.
This move builds upon an executive order President Donald Trump signed in January that barred such funding for hospitals providing these interventions to patients under age 19. That rule led to chaos and confusion at clinics nationwide, but has since been tied up in litigation.
The new proposed rule for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which would put the age cut-off at 18, will enter a 60-day public comment period before going into effect, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson. An identical rule would apply…
