University of Utah Health has announced it will fully discontinue all remaining gender-affirming health care for transgender patients under 18, citing anticipated state and federal restrictions. The decision marks the end of care for youth who had previously been allowed to continue treatment under Utah’s existing law.
Families were notified that all gender-affirming treatments, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, must end by April 15, 2026. University of Utah Health also confirmed that its providers will no longer be permitted to coordinate gender-affirming care for minors with other clinicians within the state, even in cases where care may still be legally available elsewhere in Utah.
The move follows Utah’s 2023 passage of Senate Bill 16, which blocked new transgender youth patients from accessing gender-affirming care while allowing existing patients to continue treatment. That law was framed as a temporary moratorium pending further study. However, lawmakers are now advancing legislation that would remove those grandfathered protections and convert the restriction into a permanent ban.
University officials said the evolving legal environment left them with little choice. In a statement, the health system acknowledged the decision would be distressing for patients and families but said the uncertainty surrounding enforcement, penalties, and potential loss of funding made it impossible to continue offering care responsibly.
Advocates argue the decision goes beyond what current law requires and reflects a broader chilling effect across health systems. Rather than waiting for final legislation or court rulings, providers are preemptively withdrawing services out of fear of future consequences. Critics say that leaves transgender youth paying the price for political instability rather than medical necessity.
The announcement comes despite a state-commissioned Utah Department of Health review that found gender-affirming care for adolescents to be effective and supported by medical evidence. That report concluded such care improves mental health outcomes and reduces risks associated with depression and suicidality. Lawmakers pushing for bans have largely dismissed those findings.
Families affected by the change now face difficult choices. Some are seeking care out of state, which can involve significant financial and logistical burdens. Others report fear and confusion about what happens when medically supervised care is abruptly stopped.
Nationally, Utah’s decision reflects a growing trend in which hospitals and universities scale back transgender care in anticipation of restrictive laws rather than direct legal mandates. Advocates warn this pattern could rapidly reduce access even in states where care technically remains legal.
For transgender youth and their families, the result is immediate and deeply personal. Access to care is shrinking not because of new medical evidence, but because institutions are retreating under political pressure. TransVitae will continue to follow developments as Utah’s legislative session moves forward.
