Open Door stops starting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for under-19 patients
Issue
Open Door Community Health Centers CEO Tory Starr said in a September 10, 2026 letter that the health center will no longer start hormone therapy or puberty blockers for patients under 19. It cites revised HHS grant terms and says continuing could endanger resources that support care for more than 60,000 patients.
Patients already in treatment keep their care.
Key points
- The letter ties the change to HHS's Grants Policy Statement, which lets an award end if it no longer serves program goals or agency priorities.
- A separate rule, CMS-2451-F, ends federal Medicaid and CHIP payment for these treatments for minors starting October 13, 2026.
- Open Door keeps care for patients already in treatment and says all its other services are unchanged for patients of every age.
Sources for this story
Open Door Community Health Centers — community update from CEO Tory Starr (Sept. 10, 2026)Part of
- Healthcare access, language, and civil-rights implementation
Gender-affirming care rules
Affected FQHCs
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FQHC Talent. (2026, September 10). Open Door stops starting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for under-19 patients. Source: Open Door Community Health Centers — community update from CEO Tory Starr (Sept. 10, 2026). Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/open-door-under-19-hormone-therapy-hhs-grants-policy-sept-2026