MADISON, WIS. — With no federal restrictions in place regarding healthcare for transgender youth, advocates are alarmed that UW Health continues to withhold care.
The Transgender Resistance Action Committee (TRAC) of Dane County announced today that this week, they officially called upon University of Wisconsin (UW) Health leadership to reinstate access at UW Health to all medically necessary, life-saving health care for transgender youth. This comes on the heels of a recent federal court order which blocked the declaration by the US Health Secretary that sought to unilaterally withhold funding from hospitals and clinics that provide gender affirming care to people 18 or 19 and younger.
UW Health was previously one of the largest providers of this care in Wisconsin, and in January they announced that “due to recent federal actions,” they would pause providing gender affirming care to patients under 18.
“Throughout months of community engagement, we have heard first hand of the harm and stress that this decision is causing young people, their parents, and whole communities. At minimum, it is costing families time and money to find new providers. At worst, kids are going without care and suffering needlessly,” wrote TRAC members in their letter.
“As the proposed federal rules attempting to decrease access to this care have not been approved or made law, we question why UW Health decided to take this action and comply in advance. Also, a recent federal court order blocked the declaration by the US Health Secretary which sought to unilaterally impose these rules. Please shed light on your decision making process for ending this life-saving care, and why you made this decision earlier this year. Since the declaration has been found to be unlawful by the US federal court system, we demand that you resume providing this important care to youth.”
“Due to the priorities of the current federal government, we may soon see rules proposed that cut off funding for hospitals and clinics that provide gender affirming care to adults, reproductive health care, or other necessary care. We need to draw a line now and affirm that health care should not be restricted by political whims. People
should decide what care is best for them in consultation with their doctor, not politicians.”
TRAC members closed by asking, “Please reinstate access to health care for transgender youth immediately and share more information on your decision making process.”
The Transgender Resistance Action Committee (TRAC) of Dane County fights for the liberation of marginalized genders through action and community building. To learn more or get involved, visit https://madisontrac.org/.
