In a stunning turn of events, two prominent Colorado hospitals have pulled the plug on prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors.
Both the Children’s Hospital of Colorado and Denver Health have announced they will no longer provide these treatments to patients under 18, citing pressure from a federal investigation initiated by President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
This decision marks a significant shift for institutions that, while not performing gender-altering surgeries on minors, had previously offered medical interventions as part of their care programs.
The catalyst for this change appears to be an HHS referral for investigation specifically targeting Children’s Hospital of Colorado, with the threat of losing critical Medicare and Medicaid funding hanging over their heads.
Denver Health, though not directly mentioned in the referral, followed suit after evaluating the actions taken by HHS, suggesting a broader ripple effect of federal oversight.
Both hospitals have expressed unease about how this suspension will limit access to what they consider vital health services for young patients navigating gender identity issues.
“Following the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announced referral of an investigation against Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado), the hospital must suspend all medical gender-affirming care for patients under 18 years old while we await federal court rulings and assess the rapidly evolving legal landscape,” the hospital stated.
“This referral threatens Children’s Colorado’s Medicare and Medicaid funding, risking care for hundreds of thousands of children,” the statement continued, highlighting the high stakes of this federal crackdown.
While the hospital’s concern for broader care access is noted, one has to wonder if prioritizing compliance over a controversial practice might ultimately protect more vulnerable patients from rushed medical decisions.
Denver Health also released a statement, admitting it “made the difficult decision to suspend gender affirming care to youth” after reviewing the actions taken by HHS.
They lamented that “these changes, which are made necessary by the actions of HHS, substantially affect access to critical health services,” and worried about the disruption of provider-patient relationships built on trust.
Sure, relationships matter, but isn’t it equally important to question whether pushing powerful drugs on minors—before they can fully grasp the consequences—might be the real disruption worth worrying about?
Both hospitals have committed to continuing “supportive services” for affected families, though it remains unclear what form this support will take without the medical component.
For now, the suspension stands as a stark reminder of the tension between federal authority and progressive health policies, with HHS flexing its muscle to steer hospitals away from treatments many conservatives view as experimental at best.
While empathy for struggling youth and their families is essential, this move by HHS could be seen as a necessary guardrail against a medical trend that’s raced ahead of settled science—proving that sometimes, a firm hand from Washington isn’t just warranted, but overdue.
