‘No other viable options’: VCU Health to end all gender-affirming care to those under 19
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health will soon no longer provide gender-affirming care to those under 19 years old, with officials saying there are "no other viable options" if the hospital wants to remain in compliance with federal and state directives.
On Tuesday, July 29, the webpage describing transgender care offered at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU was updated to state that the facility would "cease providing gender-affirming care" for "youth under age 19."
"As has been the case with other children’s hospitals and academic medical centers across the country, this decision comes after a thoughtful and thorough assessment that revealed no other viable options at this time," VCU Health said.
What prompted this decision? What is gender-affirming care?
Early on in President Donald Trump's second term, he issued an executive order that cut federal funding from institutions that offer gender-affirming care.
The executive order, called “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” defines a “child” as someone 18 years old or younger. It describes gender-affirming care as the “maiming” and “sterilizing” of persons.
The order goes on to list the use of puberty blockers — a medicine that, while taken, prevents a person from beginning puberty — as well as hormone treatment and surgical procedures as such “chemical and surgical mutilation.”
Though this list is no longer available on its website, the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU previously defined gender-affirming care for young people as including the following services:
- Medical evaluation
- Medical hormone management
- Prescription medications
- Mental health care
- Voice therapy
- Letters of medical necessity to address hormone treatment, school issues and/or surgery (as needed)
- Referrals to other medical and surgical specialists (as needed)
- Referrals to peer and family support groups
- Educational materials
This is not the first time that VCU Health has changed its gender-affirming care offerings. It first did so on Jan. 30 -- though this new decision encompasses all such care for those under 19, while VCU Health previously only suspended both gender-affirming surgery and medications.
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Just under a month later, in late February, VCU Health provided an update saying that the facility would resume offering gender-affirming medications to current patients those under 19. However, the suspension on gender-affirming surgeries remained.
What exactly is changing at VCU Health with this new decision?
Under this newest July 29 update, VCU Health will not provide any gender-affirming care services to patients under 19 -- including types of care that do not involve medication or surgical intervention.
VCU Health will not stop offering this care right away. Officials said the facility will "wind down" these services across a 90-day period.
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"We recognize how difficult this change is for many of our patients, families, team members and community members," VCU Health said. "Our care teams remain committed to their patient families. As we wind down these services over the next 90 days, our teams will provide support and assist with safe transfer of care for existing patients, considering each youth’s needs with compassion and clinical judgement."
VCU Health added that it has increased access to mental health services for patients who are impacted by this decision. If you are not in crisis, officials recommend calling the Virginia Treatment Center for Children at 804-828-3137.
If you are in crisis, VCU Health said you should call 911, go to the nearest emergency room or reach out to your local community services board.
"Our doors remain open to all patients and their families for all other health care needs," officials said.
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For more information, you can read VCU Health's full statement and accompanying FAQ here.
