Attorney General Raoul Issues Statement Regarding Proposed Medicaid Rules Banning Health Care For Transgender Youth

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued a statement condemning two proposed federal rules announced by the Trump administration that could ban medically necessary health care for transgender adolescents.

“Following nearly a year of cruel and relentless attacks on transgender youth and their medical providers, today the Trump administration released its proposal to prohibit Medicaid and federal CHIP reimbursement for transgender patients younger than 19, and block Medicaid and Medicare funding to any hospital that provides medically necessary gender-affirming care to youth. The Trump administration is taking this callous step to deny access to medically necessary health care for transgender youth. These proposed rules, if finalized, would have a devastating impact on the patients who need this health care and the providers who have continued to serve them.

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“Although the Trump administration's action is disturbing and harmful, I want to be clear: Today's announcement is only a proposal. The proposed rules do not change the law and do not end access to medically necessary gender-affirming care or change who is entitled to protection against discrimination on the basis of disability. Patients can continue to seek and safely obtain this comprehensive health care in Illinois. Health care professionals can continue to provide this care to their patients in Illinois.

“My office is actively evaluating the proposed rules, and we are prepared to pursue every avenue to prevent the proposed rules from taking effect. I stand with Illinois’ transgender youth and their families, and I stand with the medical providers who have continued to provide essential, quality health care to transgender youth despite the administration's threats. I will use every legal tool at my disposal to preserve access to medically necessary health care for transgender youth. I remain firmly committed to advocating for the rights of all transgender youth, together with their families and providers, to make decisions about their own health care and to live their lives authentically.”

Attorney General Raoul has worked throughout the past year to fight the Trump administration’s immoral and unlawful attempts to block transgender healthcare. In August, the Illinois Attorney General’s office co-led a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to restrict access to medically necessary care for transgender and nonbinary youth. In September, the office filed another lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over its threats to pull funding for longstanding reproductive and sexual health education programs for youth if the educational materials include language affirming young people’s gender identity. Raoul’s office has also submitted multiple amicus briefs and comment letters advocating for transgender individuals’ rights, including the right to serve in the military, obtain a passport and protect their medical records.

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