A significant policy shift by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to discontinue Medicaid funding for sex-change treatments in minors has been met with approval by a veteran pediatrician. Dr. Quentin Van Meter, the immediate past president of the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), stated that these medical and surgical interventions are not appropriate or compassionate approaches for children experiencing gender dysphoria.
Ending Funding for Youth Gender Interventions
Dr. Van Meter expressed his commendation for HHS and CMS for their decision to halt funding for medical and surgical interventions related to gender transition in youth healthcare systems. “I’m really congratulating HHS and CMS for… taking the step to block the medical and surgical interventions or funding for those in those healthcare systems… primarily because it’s not an appropriate kind of intervention,” Van Meter stated in an interview. He countered claims that the policy change would leave children without necessary care, emphasizing that the focus should remain on robust mental health treatment to address the underlying issues contributing to their distress.
“This is not denial of care. This is not lack of compassion. This is not denial that these patients exist, as we are told that we are doing this,” Van Meter elaborated. “This is actually very compassionate, very appropriate, and has been scientifically proven to be of benefit to these children.” With 42 years of experience in pediatric endocrinology, including a fellowship at Johns Hopkins in the late 1970s, Van Meter argued that “puberty is not a disease.” He believes that interventions aimed at altering its natural course, as part of sex-change procedures, can potentially worsen the mental health challenges faced by young individuals.
Concerns Over Medical Framework and Research
The policy change arrives amid what Dr. Van Meter described as a crumbling medical foundation supporting the youth transgender movement. He pointed to a growing body of evidence and concerning findings, including allegations of a federally funded study whose results were reportedly suppressed after some participants died by suicide. Further concerns include federal challenges to a prominent transgender medical authority, a significant increase in individuals seeking to detransition, and the irreversible physical consequences associated with gender transition procedures, such as sterilization.
Questionable Research Practices
One specific instance cited by Van Meter involved a five-year study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) starting in 2015, which examined the outcomes of sex-change hormones in children. According to Van Meter, by the second year, three participants had died by suicide. He noted that researchers allegedly did not immediately halt the study after the first death and attempted to conceal the findings by withholding publication. The chief investigators reportedly had conflicts of interest, having been deeply involved in the transgender medical field and advocating for these treatments.
This multimillion-dollar study, titled “The Impact of Early Medical Treatment in Transgender Youth,” later faced scrutiny from a GOP-led Senate committee in 2024. The committee accused the researchers of intentionally withholding data that indicated puberty blockers did not improve children’s mental health. The lawmakers also highlighted that the study found 11 participants experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Criticism of Transgender Medical Authorities
In parallel, a leading transgender medical organization, instrumental in developing pediatric sex-change guidelines adopted by major medical groups, has faced accusations of prioritizing ideology over evidence-based medicine. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is currently involved in a legal challenge in Texas, which includes allegations from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“None of this is a standard of care, none of it is rigorous. It’s just their specific opinion based on their ideology,” Van Meter stated regarding WPATH’s guidelines. He also noted a substantial rise in individuals seeking to detransition, citing online support groups that reportedly receive hundreds of inquiries monthly from people seeking assistance. At a conference last March, Van Meter encountered approximately 85 individuals from various countries who wished to detransition, underscoring that a segment of the population has experienced negative outcomes from these treatments.
Long-Term Health Risks and Underlying Issues
Detransitioning is described as a complex process often requiring reconstructive surgeries, gradual medication adjustments, and extensive psychological support. Dr. Van Meter highlighted that sex-change treatments can lead to severe and irreversible physical harms. These can include permanent sterilization, significant sexual dysfunction, reduced bone density, impaired brain development, an increased risk of early-onset dementia, and lifelong health conditions necessitating continuous medical management.
Van Meter suggested that the desire for sex-change procedures can sometimes emerge in vulnerable children facing significant life challenges, such as parental divorce, incarceration, substance abuse, or family bereavement. These children might then be exposed to online communities that present gender transition as a panacea or erroneously identify gender identity as the primary source of their problems.
Systemic Changes Proposed
Beyond enhancing mental health services for children, Van Meter advocated for broader systemic changes in transgender policies. He proposed redirecting federal funding away from medical schools that promote research into sex-change treatments or teach these procedures as standard care. According to Van Meter, healthcare professionals often endorse transitions without critical examination for fear of being labeled negatively. He also stated that dissenting voices within the medical community are frequently excluded from academic discourse and professional associations.
Furthermore, Van Meter suggested extending the statute of limitations for detransitioners to pursue legal action against healthcare providers who facilitated such treatments. He also called for increased auditing of clinics to ensure scientific transparency.
