Texas expands lawsuit against doctors accused of providing gender-affirming care to youth

"Texas is tacking new accusations onto two doctors sued by the state last year for allegedly providing gender-affirming care to youth, claiming that they falsified records. Republican attorney general Ken Paxton announced on Wednesday that his office is expanding the lawsuits against doctors May Lau and M. Brett Cooper, claiming it has discovered additional evidence that they not only provided the care, but also supposedly falsified medical records and billing statements by altering diagnoses to conceal the care and obtain Medicaid reimbursement."

"Lau surrendered her license two months ago, as she was already moving her practice to Oregon, but has maintained that the allegations are "false in every material aspect." "Dr. Lau did not force any treatment on any of her patients and her care complied with Texas and federal law in every respect," Craig Smyser, one of her attorneys, told Texas Public Radio."

"The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the World Medical Association, and the World Health Organization all agree that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary not just for adults, but minors as well. Paxton was forced to drop one of his lawsuits against a third doctor in the state, Hector Granados, after "no legal violations were found" following a "review of the evidence and Gran"

Texas added accusations of falsified medical records and altered billing to lawsuits against two doctors previously accused of providing gender-affirming care to minors. The attorney general's office alleges altered diagnoses were used to conceal care and secure Medicaid reimbursement. Senate Bill 14 bars transition-related surgery, hormones, and puberty blockers for those under 18 while permitting similar treatments for cisgender youth with endocrine conditions and authorizes the Texas Medical Board to revoke licenses. One doctor surrendered a license and denied the claims. Major medical organizations state gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary for minors.

Read at Advocate.com