RFK Jr.'s HHS investigates Seattle Children's Hospital over youth gender-affirming care

"Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched an investigation into Seattle Children's Hospital for providing gender-affirming care to youth. The department announced Friday that it has referred the hospital to the Office of Inspector General for "for failure to meet professional recognized standards of health care as according to Secretary Kennedy's declaration." If the department concludes the hospital violated the policy, it could lose its Medicaid and Medicare funding."

"While the HHS does not have the legal authority to implement either policy, a bill criminalizing gender-affirming care for trans youth and another bill banning Medicaid from covering the care were approved by the U.S. House of Representatives also in December. Both bills now head to the Senate, where it is unclear if they have the support needed to pass."

"The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the World Medical Association, and the World Health Organization all agree that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary not just for adults but minors as well. Democratic state attorneys general from 18 states and the District of Columbia filed a joint lawsuit challenging the HHS rule last week, asserting the order "exceeds the Secretary's authority and violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Medicare and Medicaid statutes.""

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initiated an investigation into Seattle Children's Hospital for providing gender-affirming care to youth and referred the hospital to the Office of Inspector General for "for failure to meet professional recognized standards of health care as according to Secretary Kennedy's declaration." The referral could lead to loss of Medicaid and Medicare funding if violations are found. HHS proposed a rule to ban gender-affirming care for under-18s and bar Medicaid and CHIP coverage, though HHS lacks legal authority to implement it. The U.S. House approved bills criminalizing care and banning Medicaid coverage; both head to the Senate. Leading medical organizations state gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary. Democratic attorneys general from 18 states and D.C. filed a lawsuit challenging the HHS rule as exceeding authority and violating federal statutes.

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