The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday sent letters to hospitals that provide transgender care services to children, demanding data on their quality standards and finances.
CMS administrator Mehmet Oz sent letters to “select hospitals,” giving them 30 days to provide specific information on “medical interventions for gender dysphoria in children.”
“These are irreversible, high-risk procedures being conducted on vulnerable children, often at taxpayer expense,” Oz said in a statement
“Hospitals accepting federal funds are expected to meet rigorous quality standards and uphold the highest level of stewardship when it comes to public resources—we will not turn a blind eye to procedures that lack a solid foundation of evidence and may result in lifelong harm,” he added.
In Wednesday’s letters, Oz cited the Trump administration’s unsigned report issued this month that questioned the evidence in support of gender-affirming care for children and adolescents. It advocated for a greater reliance on psychotherapy to treat gender dysphoria.
The report’s findings were in contradiction of what major medical organizations, like the American Medical Association, recommend.
Pointing to the report, Oz wrote it was the position of CMS that interventions for gender dysphoria like hormone therapy or puberty blockers were initiated with an “underdeveloped body of evidence, lack reliable evidence of benefits for minors.”
Oz requested that the hospitals provide information on their policies and procedures regarding informed consent for minors determining making life-changing decisions; any changes they plan to make in response to the Trump administration’s report; and any adverse events related to gender dysphoria procedures.
He also asked for “complete financial data for all pediatric sex trait modifications that were paid for part or in full by the federal government.”
