Nemours Children’s Hospital reduces gender-affirming care access for new patients starting in 2023.

Nemours Children’s Hospital has announced that it will cease providing gender-affirming care, specifically hormone therapy and puberty blockers, to new patients. This decision aligns Nemours with a growing trend among healthcare institutions across the Philadelphia region and nationwide that have begun to limit services for transgender individuals amid political and regulatory pressures. As of now, the hospital will only accept new patients requiring behavioral health services, although those already undergoing hormone treatment or receiving puberty blockers will be permitted to continue their care.

Nemours’ Gender Wellness Clinic, established in 2018, was notable for offering a range of gender-affirming services to transgender youth in Delaware, marking it as the sole facility in the state providing this specialized care. The recent policy shift follows directives from the Trump administration, which has sought to limit federal funding for gender-affirming care for minors, specifically through an executive order prohibiting such funding for individuals under the age of 19. The executive order has raised considerable concern among healthcare advocates and providers, creating a chilling effect on the availability of essential healthcare services for the transgender community.

The significance of gender-affirming care is widely recognized within the medical community, with many studies indicating that these treatments can significantly improve the mental health and overall well-being of transgender individuals. Despite Nemours’ confidence in maintaining high-quality care per local, state, and federal guidelines, the move has prompted disappointment among transgender rights advocates and healthcare providers.

In Delaware, lawmakers and advocates have expressed worry that the closure of such services signifies a backslide in the state’s commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community. Governor Matt Meyer has been a proponent of LGBTQ rights, actively working to shield healthcare providers offering gender-affirming services from potential legal repercussions stemming from other states.

State Representative DeShanna Neal, who has spoken publicly about the challenges associated with accessing gender-affirming care, noted that her experiences demonstrate the profound personal impact of these healthcare decisions. Neal’s family has navigated the healthcare system to secure treatment for their transgender children, reinforcing the critical need for accessible healthcare options.

Other hospitals in the region—including Penn Medicine, UPMC, and Penn State Health—have similarly limited youth gender-affirming care citing fears of potential funding cuts, further perpetuating the healthcare gap for transgender individuals.

Moving forward, advocates are calling on state leaders to explore alternative funding sources to ensure that transgender patients in Delaware can still receive the care they need despite federal restrictions. The urgency surrounding this issue highlights the ongoing struggle for transgender rights and equitable healthcare access in the current political climate.

As Delaware’s LGBTQ+ Commission seeks to expand healthcare options for transgender individuals, they emphasize the need to insulate healthcare from federal funding dependencies. The coalition’s efforts reflect a broader commitment within the state to uphold and advance healthcare rights for all residents, notwithstanding the complex federal landscape.