Vanderbilt Under Scrutiny By AG’s Office For Medical Billing Fraud, Accused AG’s Office Of Targeting Transgender Patients
The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –
Recent reports indicate that Vanderbilt Medical Center is being investigated by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office for what they are calling “potential medical billing fraud”.
Last year, a video surfaced of Dr. Shayne Taylor giving a speech in front of many in the medical community at Vanderbilt Medical Center touting that gender transition surgeries are a “big money maker” for hospitals because the procedures require a lot of follow up care. And that if there are no other complications, which also seem to be a more common occurrence than not.
After that piece of footage surfaced, Governor Bill Lee called for an investigation into the pediatric transgender health clinic. Soon after, Vanderbilt suspended all transgender surgical procedures and said they would be reviewing their policies.
It is a possibility that the request for these documents from AG Skrmetti’s office is part of that probe, from the perspective of possible billing fraud, since at the time whether or not those procedures were being performed on younger children, and whether or not that actually violated Tennessee state law was somewhat ambiguous.
However, when Vanderbilt informed the parents of the patients that had been treated that they had to release those records to the AG, they implied that the patients were a target, because the new law prohibiting transgender procedures, including hormone therapies as well as surgeries is slated to take effect as of July 1st, barring any action by a judge.
A judge in Arkansas just imposed a permanent ban on the law that state attempted to impose to protect minors there from parents who were subjecting them to treatments that would cause severe and permanent harm.
Brandon Smith, the attorney general’s chief of staff, said that their office “maintains patient records in the strictest confidence, as required by law,” and that “the investigation is focused “solely on VUMC and certain related providers, not patients.” He also said the hospital has been providing records since last fall when Governor Lee called for the probe into Vanderbilt’s transgender clinic for children.
The question would be, why has the hospital decided to share the fact that they are sending the records to the AG’s office now, so close to the imposition of the new law on July 1st?
Smith asserts it was purposeful and that Vanderbilt had “deliberately chosen to frighten its patients” about providing the records.
The law that will take effect July 1st, prohibits doctors from providing gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 18, including prescribing puberty blockers and hormones.
It allows doctors to perform these medical services if the patient’s care had begun prior to July 1. However, that care must end by March 31, 2024.
We will continue to follow this story as it develops.
About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member. Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
Never fails If accused of a wrong doing SCREAM Racism or crimes against Trans, Same ole play book.