Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and a multi-state coalition are challenging the federal government over gender-affirming care.
Earlier this month, HHS made a declaration that gave the agency power to exclude health care providers from Medicare and Medicaid if they provided gender-affirming care for adolescents.
The lawsuit claims the declaration violates federal law for not going through proper procedures to make the change.
Neronha says the declaration is also in direct conflict with Rhode Island state law, which requires state-licensed entities to operate on a nondiscriminatory basis including on the basis of gender identity or expression.
(Photo by BLAKE FAGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: BLAKE FAGAN / AFP / Getty Images