Vanderbilt University transfers the medical records of transgender patients to the office of Tennessee AG

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has released the records of its transgender patients to the Tennessee Attorney General in response to an investigation.

VUMC said the state was investigating billing for transgender health care services provided to individuals enrolled in state-sponsored insurance plans.

The attorney general’s office confirmed Tuesday that it has launched an investigation into the medical school for possible medical billing fraud.

The state requested medical records from January 1, 2018 to the present, and VUMC began providing relevant records in December 2022.

In a letter, the clinic told patients that their records were being handed over with a “guarantee that the records would remain confidential as required by Tennessee law.”

The case was brought after accusations from conservative advocates that VUMC was punishing employees who objected to the gender-affirming treatments, reported the Tennessee. VUMC denied the allegations.

The facility reportedly wrote to patients notifying them of the move, in a letter seen by The Tennessean and posted on social media

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Governor Bill Lee said they would investigate the clinic’s practices in response to the allegations.

The facility reportedly wrote to patients notifying them of the move, in a letter seen by The Tennessean and posted on social media.

The clinic told patients their records were handed over on an “assurance that records would remain confidential as required by Tennessee law.”

“The Attorney General’s Office is not legally permitted to disclose or make public use of these medical records, except in the performance of his duties or in legal proceedings involving the state,” they added. up to it.

‘VUMC was obliged to comply with this and has done so.’ John Howser, VUMC’s head of communications, said in a statement.

“VUMC received requests from the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as part of its investigation into transgender care information at VUMC,” he wrote.

“The Attorney General of Tennessee has the legal authority in an investigation to require that VUMC provide complete copies of patients’ medical records relevant to the investigation.”

AG chief of staff Brandon Smith, however, told DailyMail.com that the state was “surprised that the VUMC made a conscious choice to frighten its patients so much.”

John Howser, VUMC’s head of communications, said the clinic was ‘obliged to comply and it did’

AG chief of staff Brandon Smith told DailyMail.com that the state was “surprised that the VUMC deliberately chose to frighten its patients to such an extent.”

The issue of transgender rights has become increasingly fraught in recent months in Tennessee, where there is a Republican supermajority

Jeffrey R, Balser CEO of the VUMC under investigation for his medical billing practices

Smith added: “The Bureau does not publish fraud investigations in order to maintain the integrity of the investigative process. The office maintains the strictest confidentiality of patient records as required by law.

‘The research is aimed exclusively at VUMC and certain related providers, not at patients, as VUMC knows.’

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, told The Tennessean that three different parents of transgender children called him in a panic after Vanderbilt told them their child’s medical records had been released to the Attorney General, with no further information.

“They’re terrified,” he said. “They don’t know what’s next, they don’t know how this will be used or if they will be targeted in any way. They feel that their privacy has been violated.’

The issue of transgender rights has become increasingly fraught in recent months in Tennessee, where there is a Republican supermajority.

A recently passed law bans any treatments or procedures prescribed to treat children with gender dysphoria, including puberty blockers.

The law is currently being challenged in a federal lawsuit and a judge is considering whether to grant a preliminary injunction prior to trial.