A significant policy change announced on Tuesday has put an end to Medicaid funding for gender reassignment treatments for minors. This shift was positively received by Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a veteran pediatrician, who contended that such treatments are not a compassionate solution for children experiencing gender dysphoria. In a conversation with Fox News Digital, Van Meter, who previously served as president of the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), expressed his support for the new restrictions put forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
“I really commend HHS and CMS for taking action to restrict funding for medical-surgical interventions. I believe that this is not the proper type of intervention,” Van Meter stated. Although some argue that this policy could harm children, Van Meter emphasized that the goal is not to deny necessary care. Instead, he believes that children should receive ongoing mental health support to tackle the root issues that contribute to their distress.
Van Meter further insisted, “This is not a denial of care. It’s not a sign of indifference. In fact, it’s quite compassionate and scientifically sound for these children,” he noted. With over 40 years of experience, including a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, he argued that puberty itself should not be seen as a disease, cautioning that treatments aimed at altering its course may worsen mental health challenges.
He also pointed out systemic issues in the current medical approach to transgender youth, referencing various alarming findings from recent studies. These include a federally funded study where several transgender children reportedly died by suicide, as well as allegations of efforts to hide this data. Van Meter mentioned that there has been a troubling surge in the number of transgender individuals, along with irreversible damage linked to gender reassignment procedures, including sterilization.
He referenced a notable instance from 2015, involving a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study on sex-changing hormones, where three participants took their lives by the second year, yet the researchers allegedly didn’t halt the study promptly and even attempted to conceal the outcomes.
This multi-million dollar project, “The Impact of Early Medical Treatment on Transgender Youth,” came under scrutiny from a Republican-led Senate committee in 2024, which charged that researchers withheld data indicating that puberty blockers didn’t enhance children’s mental well-being.
While discussing detransition trends, he noted that the process is intricate, often requiring reconstructive surgeries and extensive mental health support. Van Meter pointed out that gender reassignment treatments can inflict serious, permanent physical harm, including sterilization and various health issues requiring lifelong management.
He remarked that many vulnerable children may seek transition in the wake of personal crises—such as divorce or loss—misguidedly believing it could solve their problems. This narrative is often reinforced by online communities that frame gender transition as a cure-all.
Van Meter suggested that along with improving mental health services for children, broader changes are necessary in transgender policies. He proposed cutting federal funding for medical schools that endorse research and education on sex reassignment treatments as standard practice. He lamented that doctors who express doubts about these treatments risk being labeled as discriminatory and face marginalization in professional circles.
In conclusion, Van Meter emphasized the need for transparency in medical practices related to transgender youth, recommending that the statute of limitations be extended for detransitioners to pursue legal recourse against health providers that promoted these treatments.
