Dr. Oz: Medicaid won't pay for gender-affirming care

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Published 5:06 a.m. ET April 12, 2025


The federal agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid has told states not to use Medicaid funding to pay for gender-affirming care for minors.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the newly confirmed administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the federal agency will stop paying for gender reassignment operations or hormone treatments for those under 18.

In a a statement, Oz said his "top priority is protecting children" and upholding the law. "Medicaid dollars are not to be used for gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments in minors – procedures that can cause permanent, irreversible harm, including sterilization," Oz said.

The federal agency must ensure medical care is "lawful, necessary, and truly in the best interest of patients," Oz said. "CMS will not support services that violate this standard or place vulnerable children at risk."

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/12/oz-medicaid-wont-pay-gender-affirming-care/83050359007/

[mwooldri]

1. Surgery for minors...

.... My understanding is that the treatment for gender dysphoria does not involve surgery until the age of 18. Hormone treatment is advised, at least puberty blockers.

I'm not a doctor but I understand this is the treatment.

"Doctor Oz" needs IMO to smoke some magic mushrooms and try again.

[Hekate]

3. That has been my understanding as well. But this lie about surgery on kids has spread far & wide

I know how I’d approach the issue if it were me, but so many untruths have gone around I no longer can swear to the reality.

Me: consultation with medical specialist. Send youngster and parents for individual talk-therapy with a psychiatric therapist. If indicated, start hormone therapy to slow or stop changes in secondary-sex characteristics (breasts and periods for girls/ beards and heavier bone structure for boys) . Above all, nothing permanent (i.e. no surgery) until the minor is an adult.

I was settled in my mind that this was the general approach — and it makes sense to me. But there is a young person I know who believes the opposite, and it has kind of shaken me even though I know his source is a nutball.

[Skittles]

2. already being the good Trump whore

which is the only qualification required to serve in Trump.2

[area51]

4. If Oz's "top priority is protecting children",

then he should be fighting for gun control.

[womanofthehills]

5. Medicaid pretty much sucks

They denied my grandaughter vein surgery that Dr said she needed -

I had to advocate for her- calling them for a month - arguing and crying to get them to agree to surgery.

I heard from some others that this is common.