Equality California Applauds Bonta Lawsuit Challenging Federal Ban on Medicaid and CHIP Reimbursements for Transition-Related Care

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to a lawsuit filed today by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of 21 state attorneys general and 1 governor. The suit challenges a recently-finalized federal rule by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that prohibits federal reimbursements for transition-related care for transgender youth enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

"We are grateful for the leadership of Attorney General Bonta, whose office has filed more than 100 lawsuits challenging unlawful federal actions, including today's challenge to their cruel and discriminatory rule that blocks federal Medicaid and CHIP payments to providers for medically necessary healthcare for transgender young people. We proudly join him and this coalition of attorneys generals from across the country in defending health care policies that treat every person with dignity and respect.

The Trump administration's attacks on LGBTQ+ people have been unrelenting. In just over a year and a half, they have sought to dismantle civil rights protections, obtain the sensitive medical records of transgender patients, and pressure hospitals into discontinuing medically necessary care. Most recently, HHS and CMS finalized the rule being challenged by Attorney General Bonta that would prevent providers from receiving federal reimbursement for transition-related care provided to patients enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

Make no mistake: These actions are part of a broader effort to restrict and ultimately criminalize access to health care for LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender people.

The federal government's actions make it more urgent than ever for California to protect LGBTQ+ people. That is why Equality California has worked throughout this legislative session alongside movement partners, supportive lawmakers, and the Governor to secure targeted state funding, preserve access to care for transgender people, fill gaps created by the loss of federal funding, and strengthen protections for sensitive medical information.

We will continue holding this administration accountable and fighting for everyone's right to access the care they need."

Earlier this year, Attorney General Bonta joined a multi-state coalition in successfully challenging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s declaration that transition-related care does not meet professionally recognized standards of care. In April, a federal court permanently blocked HHS from enforcing the declaration, which threatened to disqualify providers offering such care from participating in Medicare and Medicaid.

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