LOS ANGELES, CA, Dec. 18, 2025 — Joe Hollendoner, the CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, has expressed strong opposition to new rules proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These rules aim to limit access to healthcare for transgender youth relying on Medicaid. Hollendoner condemns this decision as harmful and unnecessary.
According to Hollendoner, the proposed regulations threaten essential gender-affirming care by penalizing hospitals that provide it to anyone under 19, regardless of their insurance. This not only endangers transgender youth but also affects overall patient care. Hospitals could face difficult choices between providing critical gender-affirming services and other necessary treatments.
This issue is not just theoretical. Already, some hospitals, like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, have limited such care in anticipation of the rule changes. Many transgender youth have lost access to necessary treatments, and further restrictions could affect even more who rely on these services.
Data from various studies shows that gender-affirming care has significant positive effects on the mental health and wellbeing of transgender youth. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, appropriate care can reduce rates of depression and anxiety among these young individuals. These proposed rules ignore this critical medical evidence and introduce political motives into healthcare, which should be based on patient needs.
Hollendoner and the Los Angeles LGBT Center are calling for immediate rejection of these rules and are urging healthcare providers not to comply. They stress the importance of healthcare decisions being made between families and providers rather than politicians. The Center aims to mobilize public opinion against these rules and has encouraged the community to voice their concerns during the public comment period.
Additionally, ongoing support from state leaders and legal advocates is crucial. California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom are being urged to take action that guarantees access to gender-affirming care remains a right in the state.
In a broader context, this situation reflects a growing trend where healthcare policies for marginalized groups become battlegrounds for political ideologies. As debates continue, communities are rallying for equal rights and healthcare access, emphasizing that adequate medical care should not be a luxury based on identity.
With the landscape of healthcare continually changing, constant advocacy and awareness are essential to protect vulnerable populations. The Los Angeles LGBT Center remains committed to standing with the transgender community to ensure fair access to necessary medical services.
This press statement was originally published on December 18, 2025, by the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
