Finance Dems accuse Republican AGs of abusing authority to get records of transgender minors

Source: The Hill

04/16/24 3:58 PM ET


Republican attorneys general in at least four states have abused their oversight authorities to demand the private medical records of transgender minors and adults as part of a broader effort to restrict access to gender-affirming health care nationwide, according to a Senate Finance Committee report released Tuesday.

Investigations launched by Attorneys General Ken Paxton of Texas, Todd Rokita of Indiana, Jonathan Skrmetti of Tennessee and Andrew Bailey of Missouri into seekers and providers of transition-related care “demand a host of invasive items” such as lists of individuals referred for care and unredacted physical and mental health records, according to a report by the committee’s majority Democratic staff.

“Framed as civil investigations seeking to determine if there has been misuse of Medicaid funds (Tennessee) or violations of consumer protection laws (Indiana and Missouri), these campaigns investigate medical providers on their provision of transgender medical care,” the report states, adding that the investigations are motivated by “ideological and political goals.”

The Hill has reached out to the GOP attorney general offices for comment. The office for the Tennessee attorney general said its investigation targeted health care providers, not patients.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/4597992-finance-dems-accuse-republican-ags-of-abusing-authority-to-get-records-of-transgender-minors/

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Link to Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden's NEWS RELEASE - State Attorneys General Misused Medicaid Authority to Persecute Teens Seeking Gender Affirming Care, Finance Inquiry Finds; Politicized Requests for Patient Information Caused Spike in Teen Crisis Mental Health Calls

Link to Senate Finance Committee Majority REPORT (PDF) - https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_finance_committee_majority_staff_report_how_state_attorneys_general_target_transgender_youth_and_adults_by_weaponizing_the_medicaid_program_and_their_health_oversight_authority.pdf