Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health have once again paused gender-affirming hormonal treatments for minors. This move comes after a recent declaration by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who stated that such care is “neither safe nor effective” and threatened to withhold Medicare and Medicaid payments from hospitals providing these services. The public comment period on the proposed rules will remain open until February 17, with any penalties or rule changes expected later in the year.
Both hospitals confirmed they are no longer issuing new prescriptions or renewing existing ones for puberty blockers or hormones used for gender-affirming purposes. However, puberty blockers remain available for children experiencing unusually early sexual development. Neither institution has performed gender-affirming surgeries on individuals under 18.
“Gender-affirming care for young people is still legal in the state of Colorado,” said Mardi Moore, CEO of Rocky Mountain Equality. Moore added that youth can continue to access care from providers not reliant on federal funding, though hospitals now limit their offerings to behavioral health support.
Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Colorado’s participation in a multistate lawsuit challenging the HHS declaration, arguing it bypasses proper rulemaking procedures and infringes on states’ authority over medical care regulation.
Major medical organizations support the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy as options for youth experiencing gender dysphoria, which refers to distress caused by a difference between one’s identity and biological sex.
In statements issued last week, both hospitals emphasized that suspending gender-affirming hormone therapy was necessary to avoid losing critical federal payments while awaiting the outcome of ongoing legal disputes between federal officials and 19 states that have filed suit. “These changes, which are made necessary by the actions of HHS, substantially affect access to critical health services,” Denver Health stated. “We are taking the appropriate steps to ensure our patients and families have the information they need at this time.”
Children’s Hospital Colorado noted its gender-affirming care center will continue offering mental health services and other support but cannot risk its federal funding amid current legal uncertainties.
Previously, both hospitals had suspended these therapies in early 2025 following a similar threat from the Trump administration but reinstated them after a federal judge blocked that order.
Children’s Hospital Colorado is also contesting a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice seeking transgender patient records, including names and Social Security numbers; courts have dismissed similar requests elsewhere.
HHS officials recently referred Children’s Hospital Colorado and Seattle Children’s Hospital to the Office of Inspector General for investigation related to previous provision of gender-affirming care—a step usually reserved for reviewing Medicare fraud or improper Medicaid payments within states.
Children’s described this referral as a “significant escalation” by federal authorities, increasing legal risks around continuing such care. “We recognize the anxiety and grief that this continued uncertainty around access to gender-affirming care creates for those who have shown unwavering dedication and commitment to supporting children in embracing their true selves,” Children’s said in its statement. “We continue to believe that all families, including the families of transgender children, should have the ability to seek and receive the expert medical care their child needs to thrive.”
