One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA County to join legal efforts against sweeping proposal to restrict youth gender-affirming care
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis introduced the motion with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to formally oppose the Trump administration’s attempts to cut off all Medicare and Medicaid funding to medical providers that offer gender-affirming care to youth.
The stakes: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services formally proposed the rules on Dec. 17, and they could take effect as soon as March. Legal experts say it will likely take longer due to legal challenges. NPR reported on a leaked version of the proposed rule changes in October.
About the move: The motion directs the L.A. County counsel to “file, join, and/or support” litigation against the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict gender-affirming care by cutting off CMS funding. It was introduced by supervisors Lindsay Horvath and Hilda Solis.
About the lawsuit: A coalition of 19 states, including California, and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit last month against the Department of Health and Human Services challenging the proposed rules. Advocates are also soliciting comments from the public to oppose the rule change.
What’s next: The proposal will need to go through a procedural comment period, which ends in February, before any decision is made on federal funding for hospitals and providers that offer gender-affirming care to youth under 19.
How are these federal moves changing L.A.? Listen to LAist’s episode of Imperfect Paradise on gender-affirming care in L.A.:
Sponsored message
Listen
31:26
Gender-affirming care for transgender youth is at risk in LA and nationwide
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
