EVERETT — Providence Swedish plans to continue providing gender-affirming care for now despite a recent ban by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Bishops approved the ban Wednesday, along with several other revisions to its directives for Catholic health care systems.
Gender-affirming care includes medical and behavioral treatments for patients whose gender identity is different than their sex as assigned at birth. Many health organizations, including the American Medical Association, say gender-affirming care is medically necessary.
Providence provides several gender-affirming care services for transgender patients, including behavioral health, hormone replacement therapy and surgical interventions.
“At this time, no clinical practices are being altered as a result of the revisions while we study the amendments to understand the changes and their impacts,” said Erika Hermanson, spokesperson for Providence Swedish North Puget Sound, in a statement Friday.
Providence Swedish is the largest health care system in western Washington, with eight hospitals and 244 clinics in the Puget Sound area.
The ban comes as the federal government works to restrict gender-affirming care. In January, the Trump administration issued an executive order stopping federal funds related to gender-affirming care for people younger than 19. As a result, Kaiser Permanente stopped providing gender-affirming surgery for youth in July.
“The Providence St. Joseph Health family of organizations provides quality, compassionate service to everyone without distinction,” Hermanson said. “This includes members of the transgender community, who we know are subject to greater risk of suicide, homelessness, harassment, bullying and acts of violence.”
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
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