Two prominent hospitals in Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin and UW Health, have announced a suspension of gender-affirming care for minors. This decision comes in response to recent federal policy changes that target such medical treatments. Effective from early January 2026, both institutions have paused the provision of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for patients under 18 years old.
The hospitals cited rising federal regulatory risks as a primary reason for this suspension. This move follows announcements made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS), in December 2025. Kennedy proposed regulations that would eliminate Medicare and Medicaid funding for any hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to minors. Given that most hospitals in the United States rely heavily on federal funding from these programs, the proposed rules create a significant dilemma for healthcare providers: either offer these essential treatments or maintain their financial support.
Kennedy stated, “Under my leadership, and answering President Trump’s call to action, the federal government will do everything in its power to stop unsafe, irreversible practices that put our children at risk.”
In a public statement, Children’s Wisconsin acknowledged that it is “currently unable to provide gender-affirming pharmacologic care” due to “escalating legal and federal regulatory risk” impacting providers across the nation. The health system reaffirmed its commitment to treating LGBTQ children with “support, respect, dignity and compassion,” stating it will continue to provide mental health services during this pause.
Similarly, UW Health confirmed it is stopping the prescribing of puberty blockers and hormone therapy due to these recent federal actions. The institution emphasized its ongoing commitment to delivering “high-quality, compassionate” care to LGBTQ patients, as reported by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Federal Regulations Under Review
The proposed federal regulations are currently undergoing a 60-day public comment period after being published in the Federal Register. One of the rules aims to prevent Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds from covering gender-affirming care for minors. The second rule would restrict hospitals that provide such care from receiving any Medicare or Medicaid funding.
Legal challenges to these regulations are anticipated. Attorneys general from 20 states, including Wisconsin, have filed a lawsuit contesting HHS Secretary Kennedy’s authority to enact these declarations.
Advocates for transgender youth have raised serious concerns about the potential consequences of these actions. Steve Starkey, executive director of the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center in Madison, stated that the loss of access to gender-affirming treatments could severely impact mental health outcomes for transgender youth. A study conducted in 2023 indicated that over 80 percent of transgender adults had contemplated suicide, with more than 40 percent having attempted suicide.
In Wisconsin, gender-affirming care for minors remains legal, contingent upon full parental consent. Major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recognize this type of care as evidence-based treatment supported by professional standards, according to reports from Wisconsin Watch.
As the situation evolves, the implications of these policy changes continue to unfold, raising critical issues about healthcare access and the well-being of transgender youth in Wisconsin and across the United States.
