Dr. Mehmet Oz, confirmed by the Senate to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), announced that Medicaid will no longer cover gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments for minors. This decision aligns with a previous executive order from President Trump and aims to protect children from potentially irreversible procedures. A 2023 study indicated that these surgeries are more common in young adults than in minors, with only 3,678 patients aged 12-18 receiving them from 2016 to 2019. Oz emphasized that treatment should prioritize psychotherapy over medical intervention for minors to avoid irreversible consequences.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the leader of CMS, announced that Medicaid will not cover gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments for minors.
Dr. Oz to lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Senate approved Dr. Oz with a vote of 53-45, following party lines, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Medicaid funds will no longer be allocated for gender-affirming care for minors.
- This aligns with a prior executive order issued by President Trump.
- According to a 2023 study, gender-affirming surgeries are more prevalent among young adults than minors.
The federal agency responsible for Medicare and Medicaid has instructed states not to utilize Medicaid funding for gender-affirming treatments for minors.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has recently taken over as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, stated that the agency will cease funding gender reassignment surgeries and hormone therapies for individuals under 18.
In a statement, Oz emphasized that his “primary focus is on protecting children” and adhering to the law.
“Medicaid funds should not be used for gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments for minors – procedures that may lead to permanent, irreversible damages, including sterilization,” Oz asserted.
The federal agency must guarantee that medical treatments are “lawful, necessary, and genuinely in the best interest of patients,” according to Oz. “CMS will not endorse services that breach this standard or endanger vulnerable children.”
On April 11, CMS issued a letter to state Medicaid directors detailing the agency’s resolution. The letter, signed by Deputy Administrator Drew Snyder, indicated that states are mandated to deliver care in “a manner consistent with the best interest of beneficiaries.”
Dr. Oz was confirmed by the Senate on April 3 to lead the federal agency in a largely party-line vote. Before his confirmation, Senator Josh Hawley questioned Oz, a former television personality, regarding segments that appeared to support transgender treatments and abortion rights.
In a social media post, Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, mentioned he decided to support Oz’s nomination after Oz altered his position on these issues.
Gender-affirming care more common among young adults
A 2023 study published in the JAMA Network Open found that gender-affirming surgeries were predominantly sought after by young adults.
Between 2016 and 2019, over 25,000 individuals aged 19 to 30 underwent these procedures. In contrast, less than 8% of patients, totaling 3,678, were between 12 and 18 years old. Lawmakers in primarily conservative states are working on imposing restrictions against these procedures.
Approximately 1 in 4 individuals receiving gender-affirming care were covered by Medicaid, the study noted.
Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order declaring that the U.S. would not “fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support” gender-affirming provisions.
This executive order accused doctors of “maiming and sterilizing” children using “chemical and surgical mutilation” methods. Several prominent medical organizations in the U.S., including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have expressed support for gender-affirming treatment policies.
State legislation targeting transgender individuals has increased the likelihood of suicidal attempts among trans and nonbinary youth aged 13 to 24 over the past year, according to a survey from the Trevor Project, which focuses on LGBTQ youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention.
In his statement, Oz remarked that gender-affirming care could cost as much as $134,000 and noted that other countries are “reassessing these types of procedures.”
“Like those nations, we contend that psychotherapy, rather than life-altering drugs or surgery, should be the preferred first-line treatment,” Oz stated. “This isn’t about politics or stigma. It’s about safeguarding individuals from choices they may not fully grasp and the irreversible consequences that follow.”
Adrianna Rodriguez contributed to this report.