On Monday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and a coalition of 22 states secured a federal court order blocking a policy from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that sought to penalize healthcare providers offering care to youth with gender dysphoria.
The ruling, issued by a federal district court, granted summary judgment in favor of the states and prevents the federal government from excluding providers from Medicare and Medicaid based on the provision of gender-affirming care.
The lawsuit challenged a December 2025 declaration by HHS that labeled certain gender-affirming treatments as unsafe and attempted to expand federal authority over provider eligibility. The court found in favor of the states, concluding the policy lacked proper legal authority and procedural compliance. The decision formalizes a prior oral ruling and halts enforcement of the policy, with multiple states and jurisdictions joining Maryland in the case.
