WZTV-TV in Nashville reports that it received an email from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) stating that it is halting gender-affirming plastic surgeries for adults. VUMC is in the process of contacting impacted patients regarding the new policy changes, says the TV station, which adds that VUMC released this statement on Saturday:
“Due to operational limitations and lack of surgical coverage, Vanderbilt Health will cease providing gender-affirming plastic surgeries for adults. Vanderbilt Health continues to provide nonsurgical gender-affirming care for adults 19 years and older."
WZTV notes that Vanderbilt Health does not provide any gender-affirming care for patients younger than 19, and that the U.S. Supreme Court last year upheld Tennessee’s 2023 ban on sex change operations for minors.
In related news, WZTV reports that a bill targeting gender-affirming procedures is proceeding through the Tennessee state legislature. That bill would ban TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program, from covering or reimbursing gender-affirming surgeries for adults.
