Vanderbilt gender clinic gives medical records on trans patients to Tennessee Attorney General amid investigation into billing practices

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has released its medical records of trans-identifying patients to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. An investigation has been launched into the medical school for possible billing fraud, according to The Tennessean.

While the state has a legal right to seek private medical records, the move has raised concerns among families whose children sought treatment at VUMC.

John Howser, VUMC’s chief communications officer, said: “VUMC received requests from the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General as part of its investigation seeking information about transgender care at VUMC.” 

“The Tennessee Attorney General has legal authority in an investigation to require that VUMC provide complete copies of patient medical records that are relevant to its investigation. VUMC was obligated to comply and did so.”

The state has reportedly requested material dating back to January 1, 2018. The investigation is specifically looking into “billing for transgender care services provided to individuals enrolled in State-sponsored insurance plans.”

The attorney general’s office started gathering relevant records in December 2022. And VUMC has assured its patients that their records “would remain confidential as required by Tennessee law.” 

AG Chief of Staff Brandon Smith said in an email that he was surprised to find that VUMC had “deliberately chosen to frighten its patients like this,” per the report.

"The Office does not publicize fraud investigations to preserve the integrity of the investigative process. The Office maintains patient records in the strictest confidence, as required by law. The investigation is focused solely on VUMC and certain related providers, not patients, as VUMC is well aware.”

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, said that there were parents of patients who had reached out, panicked about the situation. Sanders said that the families were “terrified,” adding that “they feel like their privacy has been violated.” 

The report stated that Sanders has expressed discontent with VUMC not fighting harder to prevent the records from being turned over.

The investigation was apparently sparked after Skrmetti said, last fall, that his office had planned to look into VUMC’s protocols after conservative advocates released allegations that suggested the medical school had punished those who had refused child sex-change treatment, and that some of the schemes were exclusively for the purpose of making money.

Vanderbilt has denied the allegations.