Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma has quietly shut down its gender-affirming pediatric clinic, telling families the program will wind down in the coming weeks. The hospital says upcoming appointments are being canceled and that it will stop providing gender-affirming medical treatment to anyone under 18.
In a message to patients, MultiCare, the nonprofit health system that runs Mary Bridge, pointed to federal scrutiny and the threat of losing Medicare and Medicaid dollars as the driving force behind the decision, according to The News Tribune. A patient notice obtained by the outlet quoted MultiCare CEO Bill Robertson, warning that without those federal payment,s the organization "would cease to exist." A MultiCare spokesperson also told The News Tribune that more than 62% of Mary Bridge patients rely on Medicare and Medicaid, and that nearly 75% of patients across MultiCare depend on public insurance.
What Families Were Told
According to the patient message obtained by The News Tribune, the clinic will "wind down over the next few weeks," and any future appointments are being canceled rather than rescheduled. The notice said patients 18 and older who are receiving gender-affirming care will, when possible, be transitioned to their current primary care provider. For patients under 18 already on puberty blockers or hormones, the hospital said it will present options for ongoing treatment, while warning that finding alternative care may be difficult.
Where Families Can Turn Next
Mary Bridge says behavioral-health services, including mental health assessments, counseling and support, will remain in place even as medical services are phased out. For families seeking medical gender-affirming care, Seattle Children’s Hospital continues to run a Gender Clinic that offers gender-affirming medical treatment, including hormone therapy, and accepts referrals from primary care providers, according to Seattle Children’s.
National Pressure And A Shifting Landscape
Mary Bridge is not alone. Around the country, hospitals have cut back or closed pediatric gender clinics amid federal scrutiny and proposed rules that could affect Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, a pattern described by national outlets. The Washington Post has reported on earlier clinic closures and Department of Justice subpoenas targeting some providers as part of a broad federal review of gender-affirming care for minors, while the Associated Press has covered several high-profile shutdowns of pediatric gender programs in other states.
Washington’s Legal Shield, With Limits
Washington has a shield law designed to protect patients and providers who seek or deliver gender-affirming care from out-of-state civil or criminal actions. Those protections, however, do not erase the financial pressures hospitals say they face when federal funding streams are in play. The Attorney General’s office outlines the shield law, its scope and its limits in public guidance, noting that lawmakers first passed the protections in 2023 and have since strengthened them, according to the Washington State Attorney General’s office.
Local Fallout And Frustration
Advocates and families have repeatedly pressed MultiCare to reverse course, arguing that gender-affirming care can be lifesaving and pointing to research that links such treatment with reduced suicidal ideation among transgender youth. Local coverage has documented protests outside the health system and mounting strain on families after Mary Bridge began scaling back services last year, according to The Seattle Times.
Resources And What Happens Now
Mary Bridge says it will work directly with affected patients to talk through options and try to maintain continuity of care wherever possible, and it has encouraged families with urgent needs to reach out to crisis resources. Families looking for referrals for medical gender-affirming care can contact Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic at 206-987-2028 or visit its Gender Clinic webpage for referral details and support information, according to Seattle Children’s.
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