WASHINGTON: The largest children’s hospital in the United States will create the country’s first “detransition clinic” to undo gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth and fire five doctors who performed the procedures to settle an investigation by the state, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Friday.
Paxton, a Republican, said in a release that Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston would also pay $10 million for allegedly billing the state’s Medicaid programme for gender-affirming treatment prohibited by state law.
Paxton’s office said the settlement was the result of a years-long investigation into the 1,000-bed hospital’s practices, including allegedly using false billing codes when seeking Medicaid reimbursements, and that the settlement was coordinated with the US Department of Justice.
Texas Children’s in a statement said it has been compliant with all laws. The hospital said it was settling the investigation “to protect our resources from endless and costly litigation” and return to focusing on patient care.
“We stand proud knowing we will always put our purpose over politics and that we have and will continue to follow the law,” the hospital said. Reuters could not immediately obtain a copy of the settlement agreement.
