Texas Children's Hospital in Houston has opened a detransition clinic, which the Justice Department described in May as the first of its kind in the nation. The clinic opened as part of a settlement with the Texas Attorney General's Office and the Justice Department. A hospital spokesperson said the clinic is operational and that the hospital is complying with the settlement agreement.
The government alleged that the hospital miscoded services and drugs for minors seeking gender-affirming care, billed them through Medicaid, used misleading drug labels and took kickbacks from drugmakers. The hospital did not admit liability. Under the settlement, it agreed to pay $10 million, stop providing gender-affirming medical interventions and create a compliance program. The hospital also revoked the privileges of five physicians. Former nurse Vanessa Sivadge, who filed the lawsuit, received nearly $2 million.
The clinic offers primary care, endocrinology, surgery and mental health care, according to the hospital. The settlement says care will be free of charge for five years. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the settlement and the clinic's opening. Cleveland Clinic later agreed to provide detransition care under a similar settlement.