The Trump administration is now digging deeper into hospitals that offer transgender treatments and surgeries to children and teenagers.
They want to understand exactly how these procedures are being handled, especially looking into any negative outcomes or complications.
CMS Director Sends Formal Inquiry to Hospitals
This week, Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), sent letters to selected hospitals asking detailed questions.
He wants to know if these hospitals have updated their medical protocols following new federal guidelines issued by the Trump administration and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Executive Order Cuts Federal Funding for Transgender Treatments in Minors
Back in January, President Trump signed an executive order directing HHS to stop Medicare and Medicaid payments for transgender interventions on minors.
Shortly after, in May, HHS released a report that questioned the evidence supporting these treatments.
Hospitals Given 30 Days to Report Changes and Adverse Effects
CMS has given hospitals a month to respond to their inquiry.
The agency’s statement emphasized “urgent concerns” over these medical procedures, which it labeled as potentially “harmful.”
The letter specifically asked what changes hospitals have made to their clinical guidelines and how they ensure children understand the risks before consenting.
Focus on Informed Consent and Possible Detransitioning
One key area of focus is the informed consent process for kids with gender dysphoria — how hospitals decide whether a child is mature enough to make such significant decisions about their bodies.
Hospitals were also asked to disclose any negative outcomes, especially cases where young patients later chose to detransition.
Concerns About High-Risk, Irreversible Procedures
The letter outlined that CMS is particularly worried about surgeries that remove sexual organs or try to alter a child’s physical appearance to match a gender identity different from their birth sex.
It also mentioned hormone treatments and puberty blockers, which delay natural development.
Federal Funds Come With Responsibility, Says CMS Director
Mehmet Oz stressed that these procedures are “irreversible and high-risk,” often performed on vulnerable children and paid for with taxpayer money.
He made it clear that hospitals receiving federal funding must uphold strict quality standards and carefully manage public resources.
“We will not ignore procedures that lack solid evidence and could cause lifelong harm,” he said.