From The Seattle Times, Dec. 19, 2025, by Elise Takahama:
“Pediatricians and legal experts in the state expressed outrage Thursday at a new federal effort to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors nationwide, reminding Washingtonians that these medical services remain protected here.
“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services early in the day revealed proposed rules that would bar hospitals and other medical providers from receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds for any services if they also offer gender-affirming care to youth.
“The proposals aim to prevent government insurers, like Medicaid and TRICARE, from paying for gender-affirming medication and procedures for trans and gender-diverse minors in the nearly two dozen states, like Washington, where such care is legal. These proposals are not final.“
Take action!
These are proposals, not official policies—at least not yet.
Now is the time to write to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell and your U.S. Congressional representative and urge them to not let these harmful proposals take effect!
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free: 1-877-696-6775
https://www.hhs.gov
Sen. Patty Murray
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Toll Free: (866) 481-9186
https://www.murray.senate.gov/write-to-patty/
Sen. Maria Cantwell
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3441
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email
Find your representative
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
