Selina Simmons-Duffin

District Court in Eugene, Oregon, to rule the HHS declaration unlawful and block its enforcement.

In a statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James said, quote, Secretary Kennedy cannot unilaterally change medical standards by posting a document online.

HHS declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News.

Federal health officials announced a proposal that would withhold federal funding from any hospital that provides gender-affirming care for youth.

The American Academy of Pediatrics pushed back forcefully, saying the proposal misconstrued the current medical consensus and would harm transgender patients.

A pediatrician who provides this care in Minnesota and spoke to NPR on the condition of anonymity says patients are scared that these moves will mean their care is cut off suddenly.

The proposed rule is open for 60 days of public comment on the Federal Register and will need to be finalized before it takes effect.

Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

The most significant actions are two proposed rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, led by Dr. Mehmet Oz.

One rule says doctors and hospitals cannot get reimbursed by Medicaid for gender-affirming care for youth.

The other is more sweeping.

It says hospitals that provide the care would be cut off from all Medicare or Medicaid funding for everything.

Because federal funding represents so much of hospital budgets, that rule could shut down gender-affirming care for youth at hospitals if finalized.

The rules don't take effect right away.

There's a 60-day comment period, and health officials acknowledged they would face legal challenges.

Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

One rule says doctors and hospitals cannot get reimbursed by Medicaid for gender-affirming care for youth under age 18.

NPR obtained an exclusive draft of this rule in October.

The other is even more sweeping.