Massachusetts hospital system to stop giving sex change drugs to minors, but will still ‘affirm’ gender identities via counseling

A major Massachusetts hospital system has announced it will stop prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to patients under 18.

Baystate Health, which has four hospitals in western Massachusetts, informed parents and guardians of the change in a Feb. 9 letter signed by Dr. Matthew D. Di Guglielmo, chair of pediatrics.

“As the health care regulatory industry continues to evolve, we have been assessing how we can best serve the long-term needs of our families,” the letter says. “While Baystate Health will continue to provide gender-affirming mental health counseling for children and adolescents, we will no longer prescribe gender-affirming hormone medications or puberty blocking medications to patients under 18 years old.”

The letter adds: “Please know that this decision was not made lightly.”

The hospital did not provide an extensive explanation in the letter. A spokesman later pointed to federal rules that could put government funding at risk.

“Nearly 70% of Baystate Health patients rely on Medicaid and Medicare, and preserving access to care for these individuals and all others in our community is a responsibility we take seriously,” the spokesman told MassLive.

The proposed federal regulations follow an executive order issued last year by President Donald Trump titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.”

The order says the federal government “will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another.”

Supporters of the order say the government must protect minors from irreversible medical interventions. They say powerful hormones and puberty blockers can have permanent consequences and children are not in a position to consent to life-altering treatments.

Baystate said it will continue providing counseling services. It is also coordinating transfers for patients seeking hormone treatments to Transhealth in Northampton.

“By transferring care to Transhealth, we can place your loved one in the capable hands of a specialized team whose sole focus is supporting patients and families like yours,” the letter says.

Across the country, dozens of hospitals have scaled back similar services following federal scrutiny and lawsuits from detransitioners who regret their gender transitions. This year, two medical associations also reversed their support of transgender treatments.

The developments reflect a broader national shift, with policymakers questioning whether taxpayer money should support medical interventions that permanently alter children’s bodies.

Image credit: Baystate Health