Philadelphia-based hospital system ends gender-affirming surgeries for people under 19

• By Lucy Albright/LNP | LancasterOnline

Editor’s note: This post has been updated to clarify the name of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System will no longer offer gender-affirming surgeries to people under 19, a change that comes after two other health systems that serve Lancaster County indicated they had ended gender-affirming care for that age group.

This change is in response to guidance from the federal government, according to a statement from the University of Pennsylvania Health System Chief Medical Officer P.J. Brennan.

“This is a difficult decision that we know impacts patients and families who place their trust in our care teams,” Brennan said. “We remain deeply committed to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all members of the communities we serve and providing comprehensive medical and behavioral health care and psychosocial support for LGBTQ+ individuals while complying with federal government requirements.”

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READ: 2 central Pa. hospital systems end gender-affirming care for children, teens

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Gender-affirming care includes a range of interventions, like counseling, hormones and surgery, which help align a person’s body or outward appearance with their gender identity. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end federal funding and support for some types of youth gender-affirming medical treatment.

The Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania Health System’s change applies only to gender-affirming surgical procedures in plastic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, urology and otorhinolaryngology, according to Brennan’s statement. That’s in contrast to the executive order, which refers to surgical as well as hormonal interventions, including treatments that delay puberty.

Spokesperson Marcie Brody did not respond to a question about whether Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health locations provide gender-affirming care to people under 19.

Penn State Health recently changed its policy on gender-affirming care. The health system stopped providing gender-affirming surgeries for people under 19, as LNP | LancasterOnline reported, but spokesperson Scott Gilbert said it would continue pharmacologic treatment for existing patients until the care could be transferred or stopped.

Previously, Penn State Health did not permit gender-affirming surgeries for people under 18, but it did provide gender-affirming medical and pharmacological services to minors through its Gender Care Clinic at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Gilbert said.

UPMC also indicated that it has ended gender-affirming care for people under 19, as LNP | LancasterOnline reported.

“We continue to monitor and comply with directives coming from the federal government that affect the ability of our clinicians to provide specific types of care for patients under the age of 19,” UPMC spokesperson Amber Depew said in a statement in response to a question asked after abc27 reported the decision.