HHS Alleges Improper Billing by Hospitals for Minor Gender-Affirming Care

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has referred dozens of hospitals and healthcare providers to the Office of Inspector General and Justice Department for allegedly improperly billing for gender-affirming care for minors. A report, "Wolves in White Coats," claims providers used unspecified endocrine diagnoses instead of gender dysphoria, leading to payments from health plans. HHS suggests financial incentives may be driving increased billing for such care. This could lead to significant investigations and policy discussions.