Texas Hospital Ends Gender Transition Procedures

Texas Children's Hospital has reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to end gender transition procedures for minors. The agreement also includes funding for the first dedicated detransition clinic in the United States.

The investigation was launched following whistleblower allegations that the hospital continued these procedures after Texas banned them. Federal authorities allege that it improperly billed insurance companies and the Medicaid program for procedures it referred to as "pediatric sex-rejecting procedures".

Under the settlement, the hospital must pay more than $10m in fines and restitution. The agreement also prohibits the provision of puberty blockers, opposite-sex hormones or other gender transition procedures to anyone under the age of 18.

The hospital must additionally establish a multidisciplinary clinic providing restorative healthcare to patients who have undergone these procedures, with services to be offered free of charge for the first five years. The medical privileges of the five physicians involved will be permanently revoked.

Attorney General Paxton called the agreement historic and said he would pursue similar practices "with the full force of the law."

(ewtnnew, bak)