EDITORS' CORNER
Trans clinic cites threats to Medicaid patient care
UChicago Medicine announced Friday that it will no longer offer “gender-affirming care” for minors following an executive order from President Donald Trump that restricts such procedures.
UCMed “has reached the difficult decision that in response to continued federal actions, it will discontinue all gender-affirming pediatric care effective immediately,” an announcement from the health system’s Trans CARE (Clinic for Affirmation and Reproductive Equity) states.
It also states that the recent federal actions could jeopardize the health system’s ability to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients, who make up a majority of its patients.
“As the largest Medicaid provider in Illinois, this step is necessary to ensure UChicago Medicine can continue serving our broader community and delivering on our mission,” the announcement states.
“Our focus right now is working with affected patients to discuss options going forward,” it states.
UCMed offers several “feminizing and masculinizing” operations, including hormone therapy, “gender affirmation” surgery, and voice services, according to its website.
President Trump signed the “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” executive order in January, directing government agencies to stop funding “gender-affirming care” such as surgeries or puberty blockers, The College Fix previously reported.
The National Institutes of Heath awarded UCMed $276 million in 2024, The Chicago Maroon reported.
UCMed “has been named a LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) because of [its] inclusive policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees,” the health system’s website states.
It is “especially dedicated to improving access to gender affirmation surgery for underserved transgender and gender-diverse people on Chicago’s South Side,” the website states.
It also states the system works with “with public and private institutions to improve care for transgender and gender-diverse people at the local, national and global levels.”
UCMed isn’t the only medical center in Chicago to halt its “gender-affirming care” services for minors this month.
Rush University Medical Center has temporarily stopped hormonal treatments for new patients under 18, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
It had already stopped offering “gender-affirming” surgery in 2023, a spokesperson for the medical center told the outlet. However, the hospital will direct patients to other facilities, the spokesperson said.
These Chicago-based institutions join a growing list of medical centers shutting down their “gender-affirming” services.
For example, the controversial Los Angeles-based Center for Transyouth Health and Development — one of the largest medical gender transitioning programs in the country — is shuttering its treatment program for minors this week, The Fix reported.
The decision was made to close down after a “thorough legal and financial assessment,” according to a statement provided to The Fix.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on transgender procedures for minors. A law professor at the University of Michigan contends the ruling could apply to adults at some point.
MORE: UPenn Medicine won’t provide ‘gender-affirming care’ to kids anymore
IMAGE CREDIT AND CAPTION: Medical tools used for ‘gender-affirming care’; ADragan/Canva Pro
