Multiple US Hospitals Suspend Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Amid Policy Changes

Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and Community Medical Center in Missoula are the latest major hospitals to announce they will end gender-affirming care for transgender minors, citing increased pressure and regulatory changes from federal and state authorities, including the Trump administration. CHLA executives said the closure, effective July 22, is due to direct threats from federal agencies which could jeopardize care for all patients if the center continued operating. In Montana, Community Medical Center and other hospitals are halting such services amid a climate of state and federal policy changes, with recent state bills allowing lawsuits over gender-affirming care and requiring insurance to cover detransition costs. This follows a broader trend, as hospitals across Montana, including Billings Clinic and Logan Health, have stopped care for transgender minors, often despite state court rulings declaring some bans unconstitutional. Experts and advocates warn the closures will leave thousands of families without access to medically accepted care, potentially worsening mental health outcomes for transgender youth. Hospital officials say they are working to transition affected patients, but local providers and the ACLU note that options are rapidly shrinking and the federal government’s stance is having a chilling effect on care.