Oakland, CA – Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation's largest healthcare providers, announced it will pause gender-affirming surgeries for patients under the age of 19, with the change taking effect on August 29. The decision, as stated by the healthcare provider and reported by KTVU, comes amidst what Kaiser describes as an evolving and challenging legal and regulatory environment, specifically citing pressures from the Trump administration.
The healthcare giant explained that its decision was made in light of significant federal government focus on gender-affirming care for minors since January. This includes executive orders instructing federal agencies to curtail access and restrict funding, hospital inquiries by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and broader federal agency reviews, including by the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice subpoenas. Kaiser stated, > "As the legal and regulatory environment for gender-affirming care continues to evolve, we must carefully consider the significant risks being created for health systems, clinicians, and patients under the age of 19 seeking this care."
It is important to note that the pause applies only to surgical treatments. Kaiser Permanente confirmed that all other forms of gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and mental health support, will continue to be available to patients under 19. The organization, which serves over 12 million members across eight states and Washington, D.C., emphasized its commitment to providing comprehensive care.
Kaiser Permanente's move follows similar actions by other prominent medical institutions across the country. Stanford Medicine and UChicago Medicine have also scaled back or paused certain gender-affirming services for minors, citing comparable federal pressures. This trend reflects a broader impact of the changing political and regulatory landscape on healthcare providers offering such specialized care.
The healthcare provider acknowledged the profound impact of this decision on its patients and clinicians. > "We recognize that this is an extremely challenging and stressful time for our patients seeking care, as well as for our clinicians whose mission is to care for them," Kaiser said in a statement. The organization affirmed its intention to continue advocating for safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care for transgender patients.