Colorado and 20 States Sue HHS Over Ban on Federal Funds for Youth Gender-Affirming Care
Colorado, alongside 20 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding a new rule that prohibits the use of federal funds for gender-affirming care for minors covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The rule, proposed by HHS in December and scheduled to take effect on October 13, would prevent federal funding from being used for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or certain surgeries for transgender individuals under 18 (Medicaid) or under 19 (CHIP). The attorneys general argue that Congress intended for states to largely determine which services Medicaid and CHIP cover. They contend that the federal government and states share the cost of covering low-income individuals, with Colorado responsible for approximately half of its Medicaid costs. The lawsuit also alleges that HHS violated proper procedures in developing and promulgating the rule. Children's Hospital Colorado and Denver Health had previously stopped of... 
