Doctors and Nurses Work to Provide Gender-Affirming Care Amid Efforts to Ban It

As more hospitals stop offering transition-related care to trans kids, some providers are trying to find solutions.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:39pm

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The Trump administration has launched investigations of several hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for transgender children and teenagers under 19, and has proposed a new rule that would ban hospitals offering that care from receiving Medicaid and Medicare funding. This has led many hospitals to stop offering gender-affirming care to minors, at least temporarily. Providers like Casey Cash and Dr. Stacie Johns, who opened a nonprofit primary care practice called The Iris Center that offers gender-affirming care, have been overwhelmed with requests from parents whose children can no longer access this care. While emotionally difficult, many providers are determined to find ways to continue supporting and caring for transgender youth.

Why it matters

The attacks on transition-related care at the state and federal levels are having a profound effect on transgender kids and their families, as well as the health care providers who offer this essential care. As more hospitals stop providing gender-affirming services, it is leaving many transgender youth without access to the care they need, which can have serious mental health and well-being consequences.

The details

Soon after taking office, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at ending gender-affirming care for transgender children and teenagers under 19. The administration has since launched investigations of several hospitals that provide this care, and proposed a new rule that would ban hospitals offering gender-affirming care from receiving Medicaid and Medicare funding. In response, many hospitals have stopped offering transition-related care to minors, at least temporarily, as they cannot afford to lose that critical funding. Providers like Casey Cash and Dr. Stacie Johns, who opened a nonprofit practice called The Iris Center that offers gender-affirming care, have been overwhelmed with requests from parents whose children can no longer access this care at larger hospitals.

  • In early January 2026, two major Colorado hospitals, Children's Hospital and Denver Health, stopped offering gender-affirming care to kids and teenagers.
  • On January 2, 2026, Casey Cash and Dr. Stacie Johns' new practice, The Iris Center, started receiving an average of 20 requests per hour from parents looking for providers for their transgender children.

The players

President Donald Trump

The former President who issued an executive order aimed at ending gender-affirming care for transgender children and teenagers under 19.

Casey Cash

A family nurse practitioner in Fort Collins, Colorado who co-founded The Iris Center, a nonprofit primary care practice that offers gender-affirming care.

Dr. Stacie Johns

A physician who co-founded The Iris Center with Casey Cash, providing gender-affirming care and other primary care services.

The Iris Center

A nonprofit primary care practice in Colorado that offers gender-affirming care, including for kids and teenagers.

Children's Hospital

A major hospital in Colorado that stopped offering gender-affirming care to kids and teenagers in early January 2026.

Denver Health

A major hospital in Colorado that stopped offering gender-affirming care to kids and teenagers in early January 2026.

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What they’re saying

“My phone blew up at 8 a.m., and that's how I found out. And I was like, 'What? What are you talking about? What do you mean? Denver Health, what? Children's, no — what?'”

— Casey Cash, Family Nurse Practitioner (Marketplace)

“We thought we had at least till April.”

— Dr. Stacie Johns, Physician (Marketplace)

“We have been really overwhelmed by parents of children under the age of 18 who are no longer feeling safe to get care.”

— Casey Cash, Family Nurse Practitioner (Marketplace)

“Emotionally, providers are distraught. They care greatly about their patients, they care greatly about these families. And to have to be forced so abruptly to abandon them — and not to be able to help them with resources or refills and things that they need — is really devastating to a lot of them.”

— Dr. Stacie Johns, Physician (Marketplace)

“There are a lot of providers that are desperate to continue this care, and they want to because we know it saves lives.”

— Casey Cash, Family Nurse Practitioner (Marketplace)

What’s next

Numerous providers have reached out to Casey Cash and Dr. Stacie Johns, expressing interest in helping to provide gender-affirming care outside of their current workplaces that have stopped offering these services. The providers are working hard to try and find solutions to continue supporting and caring for transgender youth.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's efforts to end gender-affirming care for transgender children and teenagers are having a devastating impact on both patients and providers. While many hospitals have stopped offering this essential care due to the threat of losing Medicaid and Medicare funding, dedicated healthcare workers are determined to find ways to continue supporting the transgender community and ensuring access to the life-saving services they need.