Citing federal changes, Fenway Health ceases gender-affirming care for patients under 19
A Boston community health center that, for decades, has been a nation-leading haven for LGBTQ+ care, is ending gender-affirming care for patients under 19, citing new federal requirements.
Fenway Health announced this week that it will stop providing hormones and puberty blockers for patients under the age of 19 because of "a shifting federal landscape that requires us to adapt in order to remain compliant, sustainable, and able to provide healthcare, support, and services to all our patients and the community."
As a federally qualified health center (FQHC), in order to continue receiving federal dollars, Fenway Health must remain compliant with regulations set forth by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
Losing its FQHC status, the center said, "would challenge our ability to meet the needs of all who rely on us."
"Our priority through this process, and always, is to center patients by focusing on the health, safety, and continuity of care of those impacted as well as our broader patient population as we navigate these new federal requirements," Fenway Health said in a statement.
In September, HRSA announced it would prioritize "protecting children" from puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries "that attempt to transition minors away from their sex." As a result, the federal agency said it would deprioritize programs that offer gender affirming care, particularly for children.
Fenway Health emphasized this week that all other services for patients will remain "available and unchanged, at this time."
Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, federally qualified health centers have been deluged by DEI and gender-related orders and changing regulations.
One of Trump's first executive orders curtailed federal dollars for gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 19. In February, community health centers across Massachusetts received memos from HRSA ordering them to abandon federally funded programs related to DEI and gender identity.
MassLive previously reported that federal grant funding historically makes up $20 million of Fenway Health's annual budget. Data shows its federal funding in fiscal year 2025 dropped significantly from years prior.
WBUR reported Fenway Health also receives certain benefits as a federally qualified health center, including access to a program that allows it to purchase medications at deep discounts, but charge insurers the market price.
'Sacrificing trans youth'
The decision has merited significant pushback from community members. Former Fenway Health board member Alejandra Caraballotook to BlueSkythis week, calling the move "cowardly capitulation sacrificing trans youth."
In a subsequent post, Caraballo, a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School, said she had "no faith" that Fenway Health won't eventually drop all gender affirming care — including for adults — to remain a federally qualified health center.
Erin Reed, an independent LGBTQ+ journalist, accused the health center of "rolling over" instead of "fighting for its patients."
Somerville City Councilor JT Scott called on constituents to contact Fenway Health and the state attorney general's office about the center "abandoning trans youth" — a move that he dubbed "shameful and unnecessary."
Community health centers president defends Fenway Health
The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers defended Fenway Health in a Friday statement, calling the center "a pioneering, national leader in caring for the LGBTQ+ community" that has advanced research and education in HIV/AIDS and transgender care.
"Fenway has been the model for inclusive and responsive care for over 55 years, and this recent decision doesn't alter that commitment," said Michael Curry, president and CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers. "Discontinuing services for any of their patients comes with great disappointment, and it's palpable, visible on the faces of every staff member, patient, and board member that walks through their doors. I'm confident that this decision was made with sound and thoughtful reasoning and ultimately focused on the best interest of the health center and all its patients."
Curry said the ultimate goal is to "protect the institution, maintain access for the LGBTQ+ community, continue the life-saving research — and, quite frankly, survive."
WBUR reported that another federally qualified health center in the state has ended gender affirming care for minors, as well. Outer Cape Health Services CEO Dr. Damian Archer said his organization had little choice because state laws designed to shield medical providers from lawsuits don't protect their federal funding.
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