CAP Statement on Federal Medicaid Regulation Changes Affecting Gender-Affirming Care
Earlier today, federal authorities proposed changes to Medicaid that could affect coverage for gender-affirming care services for minors. These proposed rules are not yet in effect and will be subject to a required 60-day public comment period before any final decisions are made.
At Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) and Prism Health, we are taking the time needed to carefully review these proposed regulations and understand what they could mean for the people and communities we serve. At this time, there are no changes to our services.
As this review continues, we are focused on determining:
· Which Prism Health services may be impacted
· How the proposed changes could affect our patients’ access to care
· Any alternative pathways we can create to maintain service continuity
· How we can best advocate for our community’s healthcare needs
We commit to providing clear, timely updates as our review progresses. If service modifications become necessary, affected patients will be contacted directly with detailed information about their care options. We will provide regular updates through our website and email communications about any service adaptations.
Let's be clear: these proposed federal changes seek to create barriers between people and the medically necessary care they need. These policy changes represent a profound setback for healthcare access. While we must work within the legal framework we’re given, we do not accept that these restrictions reflect good medicine, sound policy, or basic compassion.
Our frustration fuels our determination. Remember that CAP was born in a moment of federal policy failure for our community. Our founders built this organization not in spite of federal abandonment, but in defiance of it. Over forty years later, we find ourselves again facing federal policies that deny the reality of our community’s medical needs. We will draw on that same spirit of resilience and defiance that turned a public health emergency into a movement for dignity and justice. This moment demands nothing less.
Our teams are showing up every day with care and resolve, working quickly to identify impact, minimize any anticipated disruptions, and support those who rely on us. We have weathered policy challenges before by standing together as a community, and we will navigate this moment with the same resilience, creativity, and commitment to those we serve.
About Cascade AIDS Project
Founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1985 as Cascade AIDS Project, CAP is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. We work to advance equity and access through inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people affected by HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care. From Prism Health, our primary care and behavioral health clinics, to Our House, our long-term residential care facility for those living with HIV, we are proud to provide comprehensive programs that meet the individual care needs of our community. To learn more about CAP, please visit www.capnw.org.
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