Corewell Health Ends Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth in Michigan (Again)

Second major health system leaves families scrambling for alternative care options

Published: September 10, 2025 | Last Updated: September 11, 2025

Corewell Health has announced it will no longer provide gender-affirming hormonal therapies and puberty blockers to minors, making it the second major Michigan healthcare institution to restrict transgender healthcare access this year. The decision follows the University of Michigan Health's similar pause announced in August amid federal investigations. Both decisions come against a backdrop of a rapidly changing legal landscape, where a federal judge in Massachusetts this week blocked the Trump administration's attempt to subpoena transgender patient records from Boston Children's Hospital, ruling the effort was "motivated only by bad faith."

On Sept. 10 in a statement to patients, Corewell Health cited "the evolving legal and regulatory landscape" and concerns about "potential legal liability" for the policy change. The health system said it "will no longer provide gender-affirming hormonal therapies and puberty blockers to minors as part of our care."

"Like many health systems across the country, our decision reflects our responsibility to protect our providers from potential legal consequences," the statement read. "We remain committed to supporting the health needs of our patients who are in transition or wish to transition and we will continue to offer mental health services and other essential care."

Corewell acknowledged the impact on families, writing, "We understand you might have questions or concerns, especially about our patients. Our hearts go out to everyone who is struggling. We are here to provide medical care, to listen, to support and to walk alongside our patients and families during this challenging time."

Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan, expressed frustration with what she described as a "disturbing pattern" among Michigan healthcare institutions.

"It is devastating to see yet another healthcare giant turn its back on transgender youth and their families," Knott said in a statement. "Institutions that should be at the forefront of providing compassionate, evidence-based care are instead retreating under political pressure, leaving vulnerable young people to shoulder the harm."

The decision represents a significant reversal for Corewell Health, which briefly restricted new patients seeking gender-affirming care in February before quickly reversing course following advocacy from more than 40 Michigan LGBTQ+ organizations. At that time, Equality Michigan praised the health system's swift reversal as "family-centered, equality-centered and science-centered."

This latest policy change comes as healthcare institutions nationwide face federal scrutiny. The University of Michigan Health paused services in August after receiving a Department of Justice subpoena as part of a broader investigation targeting more than 20 healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care.

Knott emphasized that despite these institutional decisions, "gender-affirming care remains legal in Michigan" and vowed that Equality Michigan "will not stop fighting alongside providers, advocates and families to expand access, push back against stigma and create a future where transgender youth can count on the care, dignity, and respect they deserve."

The decisions by both Corewell Health and University of Michigan Health leave families across the state with fewer options for accessing evidence-based gender-affirming care, though multiple advocacy organizations continue working to connect families with alternative providers and support resources.

Legal challenges emerge against federal investigations

While Michigan healthcare institutions have suspended services, other states are mounting legal resistance to federal pressure. On Sept. 9, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun blocked the Trump administration's attempt to subpoena medical records of transgender patients from Boston Children's Hospital, ruling the administrative subpoena was improper and "motivated only by bad faith."

The judge found that although the Justice Department claimed the information was needed to investigate possible fraud or unlawful off-label promotion of drugs, the requested patient records appeared unrelated to such concerns.

"The Administration has been explicit about its disapproval of the transgender community and its aim to end GAC," Joun wrote, referring to gender-affirming care. "It is abundantly clear that the true purpose of issuing the subpoena is to interfere with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' right to protect GAC within its borders, to harass and intimidate BCH to stop providing such care and to dissuade patients from seeking such care."

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in July that the Justice Department had sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics providing care to transgender patients under 18. The requests demanded not just information on policies or billing practices but also details about individual patients prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapy.

Massachusetts' state constitution protects the right to gender-affirming care, the judge noted, making it difficult to understand what the Justice Department was trying to investigate. The ruling demonstrates that some courts are willing to challenge federal efforts targeting transgender healthcare access.

Resources and support available statewide

Multiple organizations across Michigan have mobilized to provide comprehensive support for transgender youth and families navigating these healthcare challenges.

Stand with Trans offers referral-based resources for families seeking alternative care outside the hospital system. The organization provides direct assistance to families and can be reached at [email protected] for information and resources.

Equality Michigan continues advocating for policy protections and connecting families with legal resources. The organization works to ensure transgender Michiganders maintain access to affirming healthcare and can provide guidance on navigating system changes.

Transgender Michigan offers community support, educational resources and connections to healthcare providers throughout the state. The organization maintains updated information about available services and can help families identify alternative care options.

For families facing legal concerns involving discrimination or access issues, both the ACLU of Michigan and Equality Michigan provide legal advocacy and can offer guidance on protecting rights under existing state and federal protections.

These organizations emphasize that while individual healthcare systems may change their policies, the legal landscape in Michigan continues to support access to gender-affirming care for those who need it.