Now Reading: US bars federal funds for gender transition care for minors
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US bars federal funds for gender transition care for minors
The US government has finalised a rule barring two major federal health programmes, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), from funding puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries for gender dysphoria…
The Story in Brief
The US government has finalised a rule barring two major federal health programmes, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), from funding puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries for gender dysphoria in minors. The rule, published on August 13 and effective from October, cuts federal support that covers 35.5 million children. Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr Mehmet Oz said the move follows science and protects children from irreversible harm.
Opponents have sued, arguing the rule exceeds legal authority. More than 90% of 11,000 public comments opposed the cut. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association back such care, saying decisions should rest with families and doctors. The rule does not ban procedures but shifts costs to states, families and private insurers. Children currently on hormone therapy will get six months of continued coverage to taper off.
The Indian Opinion
The US rule is being sold as both cost-saving and child-protective, but the claimed federal saving of $138 million over a decade is 0.002% of total spending in the two programmes, a rounding error, not a budget fix. The more honest debate is about who decides medical standards: the federal government, state shield laws, or families and doctors. Europe has been watching this issue warily. The test will be whether the dozen-plus shield states defy the rule and fund care themselves, or buckle under cost.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
