WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, called on major health care provider and insurer organizations to comply with President Trump’s executive order (EO) to ensure children are not subjected to chemical and surgical castration. He also requested information from these entities on if they use Americans’ taxpayer dollars to provide care or coverage for dangerous gender transition services for minors.
“In his first month in office, President Trump made clear that protecting children from chemical and surgical castration must be a priority. Americans do not want their tax dollars funding irreversible gender transition procedures on children,” said Dr. Cassidy. “As Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, I am working hand in glove with President Trump to protect America’s children from irreversible harm.”
The President’s EO directs federal agencies to enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering gender procedures. On July 9, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it has sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in performing gender transition procedures on children. DOJ is investigating alleged fraud as well as misstatements by providers regarding the harms of those procedures.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule in June to prohibit health insurance issuers subject to Essential Health Benefit (EHB) requirements from providing coverage for “sex trait modification procedures.” The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has also instructed insurers offering coverage to federal employees not to pay for any transgender surgeries or hormone treatments for children.
This is part of Cassidy’s months-long investigation into major medical organizations, like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), promoting gender transition procedures for children without reliable scientific data. WPATH's standards of care influence providers and insurance companies that reference these guidelines when providing care and coverage for gender procedures.
Cassidy is requesting information from AHIP, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the American Hospital Association, the Children's Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, and the National Association of Community Health Centers.
###
For all news and updates from HELP Republicans, visit our website or Twitter at @GOPHELP.