In a significant legislative move, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on June 28, 2024, that aims to prohibit federal Medicaid funding for gender transition surgeries and medications for individuals under the age of 18. The measure, known as the Do No Harm In Medicaid Act, was sponsored by Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw and Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. The bill received bipartisan support, with four Democrats joining a unified Republican front to secure a vote tally of 215-201.
The legislation seeks to amend the Social Security Act to stop federal payments to states for what it terms “specified gender procedures.” This includes both surgical interventions and pharmaceutical treatments for minors. The House had previously passed a similar measure just a day earlier, which also focused on restricting child gender transition procedures.
Crenshaw defended the bill on the House floor, arguing that it would prevent taxpayer funding for surgeries and puberty blockers that he claims do not effectively address suicide rates among minors experiencing gender dysphoria. He stated, “Irreversible treatments on children who need therapy is wrong… your constituents know that kids are too young to understand the consequences of permanent physiological changes.”
Democratic Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey opposed the legislation, characterizing it as an extreme measure against essential healthcare. He contended that the bill bans Medicaid funding for “medically necessary care” and would penalize states that choose to provide gender-affirming care with their own budgets. Pallone described the bill as “an extreme attack on medically necessary health care for children.”
The issue of gender transition procedures for minors has gained increasing attention in recent years, especially during the second term of former President Donald Trump. On January 28, 2024, Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting Children From Chemical And Surgical Mutilation,” which has prompted various governmental responses including proposed regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized the administration’s commitment to safeguarding children, stating, “Under my leadership, and answering President Trump’s call to action, the federal government will do everything in its power to stop unsafe, irreversible practices that put our children at risk.”
The outcome of this legislation now rests with the Senate, where its fate will be determined amid ongoing debates surrounding healthcare rights and parental consent for minors. As discussions continue, the implications of this bill could have lasting effects on healthcare policies and practices related to gender-affirming care for young individuals across the United States.
