**Title: US Hospitals Bill $120 Million for Gender-Affirming Procedures for Minors, Report Indicates**
A recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has revealed that U.S. hospitals have billed nearly $120 million for gender-affirming procedures for minors since 2019. The report, titled ‘Wolves in White Coats,’ highlights a significant financial aspect of these medical interventions, which include surgeries and hormone treatments.
According to the findings, more than 5,500 surgeries and approximately 8,500 courses of hormones or puberty blockers have been billed to insurers for minors. The report indicates that some healthcare providers may have engaged in questionable billing practices, potentially using misleading or fraudulent codes to secure insurance coverage for these interventions.
Specifically, HHS identified nearly $50 million in claims for puberty blockers administered to children aged 9 to 17, using a general hormone disorder code. Notably, these claims lacked a corresponding gender-related or early puberty diagnosis, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the billing practices. Additionally, the report noted that nearly $11 million was billed for puberty blockers for patients aged 13 to 17 under a diagnosis of unusually early puberty, which HHS stated does not apply to individuals in that age group.
The report suggests that these procedures have become a long-term revenue source for hospitals, as minors who begin hormone treatments often require ongoing medical care for years. Estimates cited in the report indicate that lifetime costs for these interventions could reach up to $75,000 without surgery, and as much as $170,000 when surgical procedures are included.
The findings have prompted HHS to refer the hospitals and clinics involved to the Department of Justice for potential violations of federal law. The department has indicated that the billing patterns observed warrant further investigation.
The report also touches on the broader political context surrounding gender-affirming care. It criticizes the Biden Administration for what it describes as the expansion and normalization of sex-rejecting interventions through nondiscrimination policies and other federal programs.
In a related development, President Donald Trump has announced plans to terminate federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for sex-change procedures for minors. This policy change, set to take effect on October 13, will affect funding for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, although states will retain the authority to provide funding for these services independently.
This move is part of a wider rollback of transgender-related policies initiated by Trump since his return to office. His administration has sought to limit medical transition procedures for minors, prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, and restrict individuals with gender dysphoria from serving in the military.
The report arrives at a time when at least 27 U.S. states have enacted restrictions on gender-transition procedures for minors. Several major hospitals have also paused certain services in response to legal challenges, funding pressures, and evolving medical guidelines.
As the debate over gender-affirming care for minors continues, the implications of these findings are likely to resonate across both medical and political landscapes in the United States.