19 blue states sue to stop RFK’s proposed gender-affirming care hospital ban

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

19 blue states sue to stop RFK's proposed gender-affirming care hospital ban

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/12/19-blue-states-sue-to-stop-rfks-proposed-gender-affirming-care-hospital-ban/ 🔗

Greg Owen (24 Dec 2025)

Nineteen states are suing to block the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcement last week of a proposed rule to end all federal funding for any hospital in the United States that provides gender-affirming care to minors.

The funding threat announced last Thursday by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy would deny Medicare and Medicaid funding to any hospital that provides puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and, in rare instances, surgeries for trans youth.

Kennedy based the action in part on a claim that gender-related treatments for minors "fail to meet professional recognized standards of health care," a finding in a highly criticized report commissioned by HHS on the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria released in May and updated last month.

"Secretary Kennedy cannot unilaterally change medical standards by posting a document online," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement on Tuesday. "And no one should lose access to medically necessary health care because their federal government tried to interfere in decisions that belong in doctors' offices."

"By attempting to impose a single nationwide standard and threatening to punish providers who adhere to well-established, evidence-based care, HHS is unlawfully interfering in decisions that should be made by doctors and their patients," James's office said.