The two major hospital systems in Virginia where trans teens could get gender-affirming care had already folded last year under pressure from the Trump administration, so this week’s news that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has moved to end federal Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care wouldn’t seem to impact us much.
Youth gender-affirming care is still legal in the state, though, and as I write about this, it occurs to me that we’re seven months into having a Democrat heading up the attorney general’s office, Jay Jones, and Jones hasn’t done anything yet to counter the push from his MAGA predecessor, Jason Miyares, that led the people in charge of the health systems at UVA and VCU to end their programs.
ICYMI
Hmmm.
“Every Virginian, regardless of their gender identity, deserves the health care they need and when they need it,” said Narissa Rahaman, the executive director of Equality Virginia, the leading advocacy group for Virginia’s 300,000-plus LGBTQ+ community.
Rahaman noted in a statement that the new CMS rule will hit lower-income transgender Virginians and their families particularly hard.
“This rule doesn’t change the fact that gender-affirming care is best practice, medically necessary care, but it will make it harder for families who rely on Medicaid to access health care supported by every major medical association in this country,” Rahaman said.
“Virginia’s leaders have a choice. They can let federal funding maneuvers dictate whether Virginians can continue accessing healthcare, or they can step up. Equality Virginia will be pushing our state and local leaders to make sure Virginia stands strong against federal interference,” Rahaman said.
Ball would be in your court there, Mr. Jones.
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Chris Graham
