Vanderbilt University Under Investigation by Biden Administration for Disclosing Transgender Clinic Patient Records
Federal health officials are conducting a civil rights investigation into Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) after the hospital sha...
Federal Investigation into Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Federal health officials are conducting a civil rights investigation into Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) after the hospital shared the medical records of trans-identifying clinic patients with the Tennessee Attorney General's Office. The Attorney General's Office is investigating VUMC for possible medical billing fraud related to transgender medical treatments for minors.
Patients' Lawsuits and Contact from Health and Human Services Office
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights has contacted Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) after two patients filed lawsuits against the hospital system. The patients allege that their medical records, along with those of over 100 other current and former patients, were handed over to Tennessee state authorities.
Investigation into Billing Fraud
The Tennessee Attorney General's office is currently investigating a medical center for potential billing fraud. The investigation is ongoing, and no further comments have been provided by the center. In compliance with a new Tennessee law, the center has stopped providing cross-sex hormones and performing sex-change surgeries on minors.
Focus on Billing Practices, Not Patients
The state attorney general's office is conducting an investigation into Vanderbilt University Medical Center's billing practices. Brandon Smith, the chief of staff for the attorney general, clarified that the investigation is solely focused on the billing practices and not about the patients themselves. Smith expressed surprise at Vanderbilt's decision to alarm its patients about the investigation.
Confidentiality and Targeted Investigation
The Office is not making fraud investigations public in order to protect the integrity of the process. Patient records are being kept confidential as required by law. The investigation is specifically targeting VUMC and related providers, not the patients themselves.
Compliance with Legal Requests
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has confirmed that it received valid requests from state authorities as part of an investigation into transgender care. The Tennessee Attorney General has the legal authority to require VUMC to provide complete copies of patient medical records relevant to the investigation. VUMC stated that it complies with all healthcare privacy and security requirements, including HIPAA, both at the federal and state level.
Biden Administration's Investigation
The Biden administration is investigating Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) following legislation passed by Tennessee Republicans to prevent sex change procedures and hormone prescriptions for minors. This legislation was prompted by The Daily Wire's investigation into VUMC's gender clinic.
Report by The Daily Wire
Matt Walsh, a host from the Daily Wire, released a report last year that led to Tennessee lawmakers banning doctors from providing sex-change treatments and surgeries to minors. Recently, Walsh and his team investigated the transgender clinic at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. According to their findings, Vanderbilt allegedly administers drugs that chemically castrate minors and performs double mastectomies on them. The report suggests that the situation is even more troubling than initially thought.
Concerns Raised by Matt Walsh
In a recent tweet, Matt Walsh, a blogger, shared shocking videos that exposed a doctor referring to certain sex-change surgeries as "huge money makers." The videos also featured a health law expert discussing the problematic nature of conscientious objections to these surgeries. Anthony Cash contributed to this report.