Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego ends gender-affirming procedures and prescriptions for minors amid policy uncertainty
Rady Children’s changes care access for transgender and gender-diverse youth
Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego has stopped providing gender-affirming medical interventions for minors, including certain procedures and prescriptions, according to accounts from affected families and community organizations that work with patients. The change has included the cancellation of some scheduled and pending appointments for patients under 18, with an effective date of Feb. 6, 2026 referenced in communications shared with families.
In at least one reported case, a family said a planned gender-affirming surgery for a 15-year-old patient was canceled after months of clinical appointments. The family said they were told the decision was connected to federal actions and potential funding consequences for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to minors.
What the reported changes include
Cancellation of new and pending appointments for patients under 18 tied to the hospital’s gender-affirming care services.
A move away from providing certain gender-affirming prescriptions for minors, as programs reassess legal and regulatory exposure.
Continued availability of other pediatric services at Rady Children’s, including non-transition-related care.
Public information about the current status of Rady’s specialized gender-affirming program has been limited in recent months. In 2025, local reporting documented that program-related webpages were no longer readily accessible and that the hospital did not publicly confirm operational details about the clinic.
Federal and state pressure points shaping hospital decisions
The shift in San Diego comes as hospitals nationwide recalibrate services amid escalating federal scrutiny of pediatric gender-affirming care. In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced proposed regulatory actions targeting what it described as “sex-rejecting procedures” for children. Separately, federal proposals have been advanced that would restrict or bar federal reimbursement through Medicaid and related programs for gender-affirming care for minors, raising stakes for institutions with significant federal funding exposure.
California officials, meanwhile, have warned that denying medically indicated care on the basis of gender identity may conflict with state nondiscrimination requirements. That tension—between federal policy initiatives and state-level protections—has been cited in other hospital decisions in California over the past year.
Broader pattern: pediatric systems scaling back youth services
Rady Children’s is not alone. Over the past year, major pediatric providers in California and beyond have announced pauses or closures affecting surgeries, hormones, or new prescriptions for minors, often citing legal and regulatory risk. Some facilities have maintained mental health support and other services while limiting medical interventions for youth.
For families, the practical consequence is a tighter—and increasingly uncertain—path to specialty care, as appointments are canceled and referral options shift across regions.
What families are facing next
Families impacted by the change are seeking alternate providers, including private systems and out-of-region options, while advocates are organizing informational sessions about available care pathways. The longer-term access landscape in San Diego County will likely depend on the interaction of federal enforcement priorities, final regulatory outcomes, and how California applies state protections to pediatric specialty care.
Rady Children’s has not publicly detailed a comprehensive timeline for service changes beyond the reported appointment cancellations and the discontinuation of certain interventions for minors.