1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to introduce legislation in Michigan similar to Vermont's H.576, which would establish a trust fund to protect and expand access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth in our state. The need for such legislation is urgent. Roughly half of U.S. states now ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth outright, and more than 20 hospitals have closed their doors to transgender youth care due to federal pressure. Major hospital systems across Colorado recently stopped providing this care entirely. The Trump administration has escalated threats against hospitals, including threatening to cut Medicaid and Medicare funding for facilities that continue offering transgender youth care. Vermont's approach offers a practical model. H.576 would create a trust fund administered by the State Treasurer to provide direct monetary support to healthcare providers and nonprofits offering gender-affirming care. The fund would cover costs for patients who would otherwise go without treatment, support the establishment of new clinics, and pay for malpractice and liability insurance for clinicians who continue offering care. Critically, the bill includes strong privacy protections that explicitly bar state actors from disclosing patient-identifiable data, provider identities, or award recipient information to the federal government. Massachusetts allocated $1 million toward similar efforts last year, and New York City has pledged $65 million for transgender healthcare infrastructure. Michigan should join these states in protecting our residents' access to essential medical care. Groups like the Trans Youth Emergency Project report they have capacity to refer displaced patients to private clinics, but those providers need sustained support as hospital-based programs continue shutting down. I ask that you work with colleagues to introduce legislation establishing a similar trust fund in Michigan, with robust privacy protections and meaningful funding to ensure transgender youth in our state can access the healthcare they need.