Dane County Board Calls on UW Health to Resume Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth
June 04, 2026
CountyBoardPress@danecounty.gov, (608) 228-9053
County Board
DANE COUNTY, Wis. — On Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Dane County Board of Supervisors approved Sub 1 to 2026 RES-026, calling on UW Health and Children's Wisconsin to resume providing gender-affirming health care to transgender and gender diverse youth.
The resolution responds to UW Health's January 14, 2026, decision to pause the prescription of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for patients under 18, a decision that cited a federal directive and the potential for enforcement actions affecting Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement. The resolution notes that subsequent federal litigation has since changed the legal landscape, including a court order vacating prior federal statements used to justify restrictions on this care.
The board affirms that health care decisions, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations, should be guided by medical evidence, established standards of care, and the clinical judgment of qualified providers. Major medical associations have established standards of care supporting access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender and gender diverse adolescents when clinically appropriate and delivered under qualified medical supervision.
“The loss of this healthcare has permanent, irreversible impacts on patients' lives, and the decision to end it abruptly has caused real harm,” said Supervisor Aria Trucios (they/them, District 9), who authored the resolution. “At no point has UW Health had a legal duty to cease providing this healthcare. We call on UW Health to put the wellbeing of their patients first by resuming care to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
The resolution outlines the disruption caused by the pause in care, noting that affected patients and families have been forced to seek alternative providers, sometimes outside Wisconsin and at substantial personal cost, while others face uncertainty and a loss of continuity with trusted providers.
“Every resident of Dane County deserves access to safe, evidence-based health care that is free from political interference,” said County Board Chair Patrick Miles. “With this resolution, the board sends a clear message that the health, dignity, and wellbeing of transgender and gender-diverse youth must be prioritized.”
In addition to urging UW Health and Children's Wisconsin to resume care to the fullest extent permitted by law, the resolution calls on UW–Madison to conduct a transparent review of the decision, encourages continued collaboration among providers, families, and community stakeholders, and directs the county's lobbyist to advocate for legislation that safeguards the rights, dignity, and health care of transgender and gender diverse individuals.
The Dane County Board of Supervisors reaffirms its commitment to protecting the health, dignity, and rights of transgender and non-binary youth and to promoting a health care system grounded in trust, equity, and medical integrity.
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About the Dane County Board of Supervisors: The Dane County Board of Supervisors is the legislative and policymaking body of Dane County government. Composed of 37 supervisors elected to represent each county district, the county board’s mission is to effectively represent the people of Dane County, providing services that secure the blessings of freedom, ensure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and perfect the forms of government. Learn more about the county board at https://board.danecounty.gov/.