Healthcare

HR 3492, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, makes it a federal crime to perform genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on minors under 18, except for specific medical reasons. The bill broadly defines prohibited procedures to include gender transition-related surgeries (like hysterectomies or mastectomies) and medical treatments such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones administered to minors. It criminalizes these acts when they occur across state lines, involve payments, or use interstate commerce, while explicitly banning religious tradition as a defense. Exceptions include medically necessary procedures for health emergencies, childbirth, or conditions certified by a physician.

HR 498, the "Do No Harm in Medicaid Act," prohibits federal Medicaid funding for gender transition procedures for individuals under 18 years old. The bill amends the Social Security Act to define "specified gender transition procedures" broadly, including surgeries, hormone treatments, and certain medications, and bans federal Medicaid coverage for these services for minors. Exceptions are made only for medically necessary treatments related to precocious puberty, genetic disorders of sex development, or urgent medical conditions requiring bodily correction (like infections or injuries from prior procedures). This directly affects minors enrolled in Medicaid state plans, as states would no longer receive federal funds for these specific covered services.