Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced a final rule barring federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender youth. In response to the announcement, California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) leaders—including CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass, Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Director Mary Watanabe, Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) Director Elizabeth Landsberg, and Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan—released the following joint statement:
“Through this final rule, the federal government has taken yet another step toward its stated objective of ending access to this essential and lifesaving health care. When youth and adults can access health care, their quality of life improves and rates of depression, distress, and suicide decrease. This care is consistent with nationally recognized, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, including those from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Endocrine Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and other leading medical and mental health organizations.
“In California, we are committed to ensuring all people have access to the medically necessary, evidence-based care that will allow them not only to survive, but thrive. We will continue to stand with transgender youth, their families, and health care providers, and we will continue to fight the federal administration’s cruel and inhumane policies.”
In response to federal actions, California is investing $30 million over the next three years to pay for uncompensated care (health care that is not covered by other sources) for gender-affirming care and abortion, as well as $26 million over three years to stabilize and expand the state’s gender-affirming care provider network.