{"id":2631586,"date":"2026-07-18T09:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T13:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-denies-backing-off-proposed-rule-banning-medicaid-funds-for-hospitals-doing-trans-surgery-on-minors\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T09:19:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T13:19:27","slug":"hhs-denies-backing-off-proposed-rule-banning-medicaid-funds-for-hospitals-doing-trans-surgery-on-minors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-denies-backing-off-proposed-rule-banning-medicaid-funds-for-hospitals-doing-trans-surgery-on-minors\/","title":{"rendered":"HHS Denies Backing Off Proposed Rule Banning Medicaid Funds for Hospitals Doing Trans Surgery on Minors"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhhs-denies-backing-off-proposed-rule-banning-medicaid-funds-for-hospitals-doing-trans-surgery-on-minors%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2631586&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The content discusses the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for denying claims that it has abandoned efforts to create rules restricting Medicaid and Medicare funding for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-ticking-off-the-right-people-activists-are-fuming-over-trumps-all-of-government-approach\/\" title=\"It&#039;s Ticking Off the Right People: ...ivists Are Fuming Over Trump&#039;s &#039;All-Of-Government Approach&#039;\">hospitals providing gender-affirming surgeries<\/a> to minors. HHS states it remains committed to issuing a final rule to prohibit harmful transgender procedures on children,countering an NPR report suggesting the management had dropped these plans. The report caused political reactions, especially from conservative Republicans, who emphasized their opposition to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgeries<\/a> for minors. Legislation such as the Chloe Cole Act of 2026 has been introduced to allow legal actions against healthcare providers participating in such procedures on minors. Court decisions have already upheld state bans on transgender procedures for youth, including Tennessee and West Virginia, while some federal courts have blocked Trump-era efforts to restrict transgender surgeries, citing constitutional and legal concerns. the debate continues over federal and state roles in regulating pediatric gender-affirming care, with ongoing legislative and judicial actions shaping future policies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials strongly denied an NPR <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/13\/nx-s1-5888586\/transgender-gender-affirming-care-medicare-medicaid-hhs\">report<\/a> claiming that they are dropping plans for a final rulemaking on a proposal to ban Medicaid funding for hospitals doing transgender surgery on minors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClaims that HHS has \u2018abandoned\u2019 federal rulemaking to establish a condition of participation in Medicare and Medicaid for hospitals are completely inaccurate and unfounded,\u201d the HHS Rapid Response site on X <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HHSResponse\/status\/2076990531171672556?s=20\">declared<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Department has not withdrawn or reversed course on the \u2018Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Hospital Condition of Participation: Prohibiting Sex-Rejecting Procedures for Children\u2019 rule. HHS and CMS continue to follow statutory requirements by reviewing comments, and we intend to issue a final rule. HHS remains committed to protecting children from potentially lifelong, irreversible, and harmful sex?\u2019rejecting interventions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That flatly contradicted an NPR report on Monday that claimed in its headline that \u201cTrump\u2019s HHS abandons threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding over trans care.\u201d The body of the NPR story said the administration \u201cis abandoning its most aggressive attempt to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/willfully-naive-plaintiffs-blast-9th-circuit-ruling-on-parental-rights-lawsuit-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"\u2018Willfully na\u00efve\u2019: Plaintiffs blast 9th Circuit ruling on parental rights lawsuit - Washington Examiner\">end gender-affirming care<\/a> for youth nationally, according to an official document obtained by NPR. The document shows that the Department of Health and Human Services will not be finalizing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2025\/12\/19\/2025-23465\/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-hospital-condition-of-participation-prohibiting-sex-rejecting\">a proposed rule<\/a> that would have blocked all Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals that provide pediatric gender-affirming care,\u201d the formerly tax-funded media outlet claimed in a Monday segment on its \u201cAll Things Considered\u201d feature.<\/p>\n<p>The official document NPR claimed to have obtained was not included, nor quoted from directly, in the published version of the segment. Shortly after the article was published, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Media Relations office neither confirmed nor denied the NPR report, telling NPR that it \u201cdoes not comment on future rulemaking or speculate on potential actions. The Trump Administration rejects ideologically driven surgical interventions on vulnerable children.\u201d The CMS, as part of HHS, would be responsible for enforcing the rule should it ultimately be added to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).<\/p>\n<p>The NPR report initially prompted anger among members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), which had insisted on the issuance of the new proposed rule during negotiations last year before final passage of Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act, but those concerns were reversed by the HHS tweet. All 32-members of the HFC are Republicans, and the group is one of the most vocal and effective voices in Congress on behalf of limited government, traditional morals, reduced federal regulation, and a strong national defense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDespite inaccurate reporting, I am pleased that HHS has made clear it has not reversed course and intends to issue a final rule on withholding Medicare and Medicaid funding from hospitals that perform so-called \u2018gender affirming care\u2019 of minors,\u201d Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) told The Washington Stand Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPresident Trump and his administration have taken strong action to restore biological truth and protect children from dangerous, irreversible ideological medical interventions. Such procedures have no place in pediatric medicine, and American taxpayers should never be forced to fund the harm they cause,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) further emphasized that he will continue his efforts to secure an end to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-taxpayer-funded-transgender-surgery-policies-under-scrutiny\/\" title=\"... Taxpayer-Funded ... Policies Under Scrutiny\">taxpayer-funded transgender surgery<\/a> for minors. \u201cTennessee has laws that prohibit sex transition treatment for minors, and our attorney general prevailed in the Supreme Court last year on challenges to that law. The court found that the law did not constitute sex-based discrimination and did not violate the U.S Constitution\u2019s 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause. I agreed with that decision, I agree with Tennessee law, and I will continue to work to see that federal laws and regulations conform with this position as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Harris and nine other HFC members who are also on that panel will have an opportunity Wednesday to move forward with legislation that would make the proposed HHS rule unnecessary. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/7651\/text?s=1&#038;r=1&#038;hl=HR+7651\">Chloe Cole Act of 2026<\/a>, introduced by HFC member Rep. Bob Onder (R-Wis.), has 76 House co-sponsors and establishes a right of action for any child, parent, or guardian to seek damages resulting from a covered transgender medical procedure. The judiciary panel markup of the bill can be viewed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/EkzrYCIif9I?si=ZhwzmO4HoMFssog4\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn individual subjected as a child to a covered intervention, or the parents or legal guardians of such individual, may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States for damages against any health care professional, hospital, or clinic who participates in the covered intervention on that child. Such a cause of action shall be available regardless of whether the alleged covered intervention occurred before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act,\u201d the proposed legislation provides.<\/p>\n<p>The proposal specifies that the following damages for strict liability may be available to such an individual: \u201c1) compensatory damages, including all economic damages associated with undoing, correcting, or ameliorating the effects or results of any covered intervention; (2) non-economic damages for emotional distress and pain and suffering; and (3) punitive damages, if the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant against whom punitive damages are sought acted maliciously, intentionally, fraudulently, or recklessly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whatever happens with the Chloe Cole Act, the judicial landscape has already provided multiple bumps for the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to defund transgender surgery for minors.<\/p>\n<p>In June of last year, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the United States v. Skrmetti to uphold a Tennessee law that prohibited the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors when used to facilitate gender transition. But the high court specifically noted that state governments are primarily responsible for regulating medical standards and procedures within their borders.<\/p>\n<p>On March 10 of this year, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a decision in the case of Anderson v. Crouch upholding West Virginia\u2019s explicit ban on the use of Medicaid funds administered by the state for transgender procedures generally. The <a href=\"https:\/\/acrobat.adobe.com\/link\/officefile?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Asc%3AUS%3Ab5819472-40a5-4798-8582-e2e9e69c94fd#\/\">decision<\/a> explicitly relied upon the Skrmetti decision, saying it \u201ccompels the conclusion that the policy violates neither the Equal Protection Clause nor the Affordable Care Act. Medina, in turn, dictates that Plaintiffs lack a cause of action under the Medicaid Act.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Opponents of the Trump rule have argued successfully in other lower courts that the proposed regulation violates such state authorities, as well as the Medicaid Act. In a February 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/acrobat.adobe.com\/id\/urn:aaid:sc:US:84b50bbd-f727-4128-886f-a9096a94ff84?x_api_client_id=chrome_extension_viewer&#038;x_api_client_location=\">decision,<\/a> for example, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle blocked Trump\u2019s previous executive orders barring federally funded transgender surgery and revoking federal grants to groups advocating for the unrestricted availability of transgender treatments. The court said Trump\u2019s actions violated both the Constitution\u2019s separation of powers between Congress and the executive branch and the Fifth Amendment\u2019s guarantee of equal treatment.<\/p>\n<div><em>Mark Tapscott is senior congressional analyst at The Washington Stand.<\/em><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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