Oregon Led Coalition Wins Court Order Blocking Trump Effort to Cut Gender Affirming Care

A 22-state coalition led by Oregon Attorney General Rayfield secured a federal Court Order yesterday blocking an unlawful attempt by the Trump Administration to pressure healthcare providers into ending care for youth with gender dysphoria.

Order Granted In Oregon Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Gender Affirming Care

In the lawsuit led by Attorney General Rayfield and the Oregon Department of Justice, the Court granted the States’ motion for summary judgment, ruling that the Trump Administration cannot threaten to cut off hospitals and clinics from Medicare and Medicaid for providing gender-affirming care.

AG Rayfield said, “The freedom to make personal healthcare decisions – with your family and your doctor – is a fundamental Oregon value.”

Attorney General Rayfield indicated that the Court saw through the federal government’s attempt to bully hospitals and providers into abandoning their patients. Every person deserves dignity, compassion, and care,  and the ruled on the side of those values.

Oregon’s Gender Affirming Care System Taking Strain

Even before the injunction was granted to the 22-state coalition, Oregon’s gender-affirming care system was already strained.

State workforce officials say access to data is not systematically tracked, rural access is limited, and some surgery waitlists can stretch to three years, despite gender-affirming health care being protected under Oregon law, including the Reproductive Health Equity Act of 2017 and Oregon House Bill 2002 of 2023.

While the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and many private health insurance plans in the state cover medically necessary for gender affirming care, according to accepted standards of care, the Oregon Health Authority has warned that Oregon Health Plan (OHP)  members may not be able to get a gender-affirming care appointment right away because there may not be enough clinicians available to provide all services immediately.

OHA indicated that it created a Gender-Affirming Care Provider Workgroup in 2024, and that the group’s report focused on improving training, hiring, and retention of gender-affirming care providers.

While yesterday’s Court ruling is a win for many seeking gender affirming care, the system may not be ready to provide the care they are entitled to.