Certain gender-affirming care to resume at VCU Health

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- VCU Health recently released an update regarding the continuation of gender-affirming care in certain circumstances following President Donald Trump's executive order condemning "chemical and surgical mutilation" of children.

An update was posted to the VCU Health website on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 8:15 a.m. stating that as of Tuesday, there will be several policies applied to patients under the age of 19 seeking gender-affirming care.

As described by VCU Health, the following circumstances apply, varying from current to new patients:

• Gender-affirming medications will resume, if appropriate, for existing patients
• The care of existing patients who require gender-affirming medication and/or surgeries will be transferred to non-VCU Health providers "as soon as feasible"
• New patients seeking gender-affirming care will be provided education, counseling and mental health services
• The suspension of gender-affirming care surgeries remains in effect

This update comes after VCU Health suspended gender-affirming care entirely for those under 19 years old on Jan. 30, following Trump's recent executive order that cut federal funding for gender-affirming surgery and medication for those under 19 years old.

Additionally, after the executive order, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares sent out a memo to local university health systems providing legal advice and supporting Trump's order, stating that the "chemical and surgical mutilation of children must end immediately."

For more information about the state of gender-affirming care at VCU Health and the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, visit their transgender webpage.