Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health have suspended gender-affirming hormonal treatments for minors, though gender-affirming care remains legal in Colorado and transgender youth can seek care from other non-federally funded providers. Both hospitals will continue offering behavioral health support to patients under 18. Puberty blockers for children experiencing unusually early sexual development remain available, and neither hospital performed gender-affirming surgeries on people under 18 before the suspension.
Basis for Suspension
On December 18, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a declaration that gender-affirming care is “neither safe nor effective,” with a threat to cut Medicare and Medicaid payments to any hospitals providing that type of care. The HHS review concluded that “available evidence cannot support determinations regarding the effectiveness of medical and surgical interventions for mental health or alleviating gender dysphoria symptoms” and stated that “pediatric medical transition evidence for benefit remains highly uncertain, while harm evidence demonstrates less uncertainty.” The public comment period lasts through February 17, meaning the proposed rules and any penalties won’t take effect until later this year.
Both hospitals suspended hormone therapy to avoid the risk of losing Medicare and Medicaid payments while awaiting the outcome of court battles between federal officials and 19 states that sued. Denver Health stated: “These changes, which are made necessary by the actions of HHS, substantially affect access to critical health services.” Children’s Hospital described a referral from HHS officials to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation as a “significant escalation” by federal officials, which made continuing to provide gender-affirming care legally risky.
Legal Challenges
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced on December 23 that Colorado would join a multistate lawsuit challenging Kennedy’s declaration for allegedly failing to follow rulemaking procedures and intruding on states’ regulation of medical care. Major medical groups endorse allowing puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy as options for youth experiencing gender dysphoria. Children’s Hospital is also fighting a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice for transgender patients’ records, including identifying information such as names and Social Security numbers. Courts have thrown out similar requests in other states.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.fortmorgantimes.com/2026/01/06/childrens-hospital-colorado-denver-health-gender-affirming-care/