The Uncontrolled Policy Experiment On Trans Children And Youth Arjee Javellana Restar Kristi Gamarel Don Operario February 17, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/uncontrolled-policy-experiment-trans-children-and-youth On December 18, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new policy stating that hospitals providing gender-related hormonal or surgical interventions to trans minors will be barred from Medicare and Medicaid programs. This directive contradicts evidence-based recommendations for gender-affirming care endorsed by leading medical and health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, and American Psychological Association.