Texas Republican forces children's hospital to open a "detransition clinic" - LGBTQ Nation

"Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, locked in a tight race with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) for the Republican nomination for Senate, is burnishing his MAGA bona fides with an unusual settlement with Texas Children's Hospital over claims of fraudulent billing and other violations of Texas' ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth."

"Paxton initiated a years-long investigation of the hospital in 2023 after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation banning gender-affirming care for trans youth. According to the hospital, Texas Children's has produced more than 5 million documents to both Paxton's office and the U.S. Department of Justice in related investigations, the Texas Tribune reports."

"The case involves, among other accusations, charges that some doctors at Texas Children's did not use the correct billing codes and did not use the correct gender identifiers for trans patients, something Paxton's office argues was done to avoid detection under the state ban on gender-affirming care."

"While maintaining their innocence, the hospital said in a statement it decided to settle "to protect our resources from endless and costly litigation... We stand proud knowing we will always put our purpose over politics and that we have and will continue to follow the law.""

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, pursued Texas Children’s Hospital through a years-long investigation after Texas legislation banned gender-affirming care for trans youth. The hospital reported producing more than five million documents to Paxton’s office and the U.S. Department of Justice. Allegations included incorrect billing codes and incorrect gender identifiers for trans patients, which Paxton’s office said were used to avoid detection under the state ban. The hospital said it maintained innocence but chose to settle to avoid endless and costly litigation. The settlement required paying $10 million to Texas Medicaid for “illegal ‘gender-transition’ interventions” under false pretenses and included terms to terminate privileges and prevent hiring or credentialing specific doctors tied to the care.

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