KFF Health News' 'What the Health?' Supreme Court Upholds Bans on Gender-Affirming Care
Jun 20, 2025
Alice Miranda Ollstein, a health policy reporter at Politico, and Victoria Knight, a healthcare policy reporter at Axios, delve into critical issues surrounding the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors. They discuss its implications for similar laws nationwide and the ongoing legal battles over healthcare rights. The panel also tackles proposed Medicaid cuts, rural hospital funding challenges, and the impact of AI on mental health, shedding light on the complex landscape of healthcare policy and its effects on vulnerable populations.
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Supreme Court Limits Gender-Affirming Care
- The Supreme Court ruling upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors sets a precedent for similar laws in two dozen states.
- The court avoided ruling on broader transgender discrimination, limiting this decision's scope but signaling ongoing legal conflicts.
HIPAA Privacy Rules Face Challenges
- A federal judge blocked Biden's HIPAA rule expansion protecting abortion and gender-affirming care records, calling it an overreach.
- This ruling challenges medical privacy expansions while litigation and policy debates continue.
Senate Bill Deepens Medicaid Cuts
- The Senate's budget reconciliation bill deepens Medicaid cuts to fund tax policies favored by Trump.
- Negotiations surround provider taxes and rural hospital funds amid concerns over balancing cuts and healthcare access.