The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has announced a significant shift in its medical policy, discontinuing medicinal gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 19, including critical treatments like hormone therapy and puberty blockers. This decision, unfolding amidst intensified federal scrutiny and a national public health debate, marks a pivotal moment for transgender healthcare access in the state and beyond, deeply impacting vulnerable youth.
This is not VCU’s first adjustment to its youth healthcare services. Earlier in January, the institution had temporarily halted both surgical procedures and medicinal care for transgender youth, responding to a directive from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and an executive order from former President Donald Trump. While medicinal care was subsequently resumed in February, surgical interventions remained suspended, highlighting the ongoing volatility surrounding these specialized services.
Dr. Marlon Levy, CEO of VCU Health, articulated the institution’s rationale, emphasizing that the cessation of medicinal treatments for minors was influenced by guidance from the Department of Justice and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Levy further noted the impact of the broader national conversation on gender-affirming care and the recent decisions made by other prominent children’s hospitals, indicating a coordinated response to evolving legal and political landscapes.
VCU’s decision mirrors similar actions taken by other major medical institutions. Last week, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles officially ended its care for transgender youth, citing pressure from the Trump administration. Earlier in the same month, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago also paused its hormone treatments for individuals under 18, reflecting a growing trend among healthcare providers navigating complex legal and ethical considerations in transgender healthcare.
The Department of Justice has been actively pursuing inquiries into gender-affirming care providers, dispatching over 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in transgender medical procedures on children. While VCU Health confirmed it did not receive a subpoena directly, the institution is acutely aware of the widespread investigations, contributing to the climate of caution influencing medical policy decisions at various facilities.
When VCU Health initially paused its medicinal youth healthcare services in January, efforts were made to transition patients to alternative providers willing to continue writing prescriptions. Many patients successfully transferred to other facilities. However, as of the most recent data, 186 young patients receiving medicinal gender transition care remained under VCU’s purview, underscoring the significant population impacted by these policy changes in Virginia health news.
Dr. Levy clarified the future for these remaining patients: “We’ll continue to take care of them and to try to accelerate this transition, but after a period of time, they’ll simply come [to] a point where we will no longer be able to write those prescriptions.” He assured that patients could still access mental health and therapy teams, but the provision of medications would cease. This underscores the profound challenges faced by both patients and providers in the evolving landscape of transgender healthcare.
The University of Virginia also implemented a similar measure in January, ceasing medical care related to gender transition for children under 19. Although UVa’s board of visitors later decided to temporarily continue care, patients were advised to transfer to outside providers as soon as feasible, with new patients being referred to other clinics and hospitals. This consistent approach across major Virginia health news institutions highlights a coordinated, if challenging, adaptation to new guidelines and pressures in the public health debate.
