A New York City hospital has closed its health program for transgender youth, citing threats to federal funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors.
Stay up to date LGBTQ+ News and Politics. Sign up for The Advocate’s email newsletter.
This week, NYU Langone Health announced the end of its transgender youth health program. The decision comes after President Donald Trump in December threatened to cancel federal funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to young people, including puberty blockers and, in rare cases, surgery. President Trump’s proposal included eliminating Medicare and Medicaid funding, STAT News reported.
related: New York Attorney General: Withdrawing care from transgender youth violates state law
A spokesperson for NYU Langone Health said the decision to end the program was made following federal funding threats and the recent resignation of its medical director. said Guardian. The decision leaves transgender teens who relied on the program without access to what many medical associations say is life-saving medical care.
Ending gender-affirming care for minors has been a priority of the Trump administration, and the subpoena was issued last year. at least 20 hospitals Medical records for health programs for transgender youth. A federal judge denied the government access to these records. in JanuaryBut the administration’s broader efforts to crack down on gender-affirming services for teens are having a chilling effect on health care providers who provide care to transgender patients across the country.
related: Here are Zoran Mamdani’s promises for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers as mayor.
New York City local leaders push back against hospital decision, Gothamist previously reported. Last year, New York State Attorney General Letitia James said hospitals that deny gender-affirming care to young people could violate the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
NYU Langone Health media representatives did not return. defender’s Request for comments.
The New York City Commission on Human Rights said it was “deeply concerned” by NYU Langone’s decision and warned that transgender youth should not face discrimination when seeking medical care. “Health care decisions should be made based on health needs, not political pressure,” Commissioner Christine Clark said in a statement. defenderIt added that the loss of the program “puts transgender youth and their families in a vulnerable position.” The commission said it will continue to investigate complaints of “discriminatory denials” of care and enforce the city’s human rights laws.
related: New York jury finds psychologist, surgeon didn’t follow best practices in gender-affirming care lawsuit
Amida Care, a private, nonprofit health plan that provides coverage-coordinated care to New York City Medicaid recipients with chronic conditions, warned that policies that create uncertainty around gender-affirming care risk discontinuing medically necessary treatment for young patients. “Gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary care,” Doug Wirth, the group’s president and CEO, said in a statement. defender. “Decisions about care belong in the doctor’s office, not in the political arena,” Wirth said, adding that regulatory ambiguity can prevent health care providers from providing care and undermine access for patients, adding that research shows access to affirmative care is associated with improved mental health for transgender youth.
NEW Pride Agenda, a New York state LGBTQ+ advocacy group, accused NYU Langone of bowing to political pressure and warned that the decision could deter other health care providers from providing care. “Politicians have no place in clinics,” Executive Director Kay Williams said in a statement. defendersaid the move would have a “chilling effect on health care providers who provide evidence-based, life-saving, gender-affirming care.” Williams urged state leaders to take steps to protect access, such as requiring Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care in New York.
related: Two physician organizations update recommendations for gender-affirming care for transgender youth
In a statement shared with defenderTyler Huck, Executive Director, Transgender Rights Political Action Committee; christopher street project, described the termination of the program as “patient abandonment.” The Christopher Street Project supports transgender rights candidates and advocates for the trans community in elected office.
“This is an attack on all Americans who care about access to quality health care,” they said. “The Trump administration is trying to intimidate health care providers into making poor choices. Hospitals must choose to stand up to these power grabs and stay on the front lines to protect patients.”
This article was written as part of The Advocate’s “Future of Queer Media” fellowship program. This program is morrison media group. This program helps support the next generation of LGBTQ+ journalists.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
