1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

We are demanding that CA HHS and CA Legislature take immediate action to ensure that transgender minors are protected when a federal government rule attacking their care goes into effect October 13! Despite the fact that new Medicaid rules to end federal coverage for Gender Affirming Care for children on October 13th have been in the works since last year, I have just learned that the state of California and the Department of Healthcare Services do not have a plan for how to deliver this care without federal funding.  Everyone has known since December 2025 that this rule was coming, and yet despite requests by advocates, DHCS did not proactively set up a state pathway to provide this care to Medi-Cal children. This care is required by CA state nondiscrimination law. Without decisive action, California's most vulnerable trans youth will lose their healthcare.  The situation is dire, but we're being told that DHCS can't or won't respond in a timely manner. I'm especially concerned that: 1 If providers are unable to get reimbursed simply and easily through Medi-Cal, they may shutter their services. Hospitals and clinics are already jumpy, looking to leave transgender minors in the cold at the first loud noise. 2 Without quick action, come October 13, families receiving Medi-Cal may not be able to access Gender Affirming Care at all. These are families that can't pay out of pocket, even if they desperately need the services. Continuity in treatment is particularly important in Gender Affirming Care for patient well-being and mental health. Disruptions in care would be devastating for youth and their families. Anything but a pathway for Medi-Cal reimbursement greatly risks disrupting continuity of care, and any bandaid that results in a gap in health care services for our state's most vulnerable is unacceptable. As my state representative and a proclaimed ally of LGBTQ+ Californians, I'm counting on you to fix this problem.