Q&A: Lawyer analyzes AG’s demands for VUMC patient records

In June, patients of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s transgender clinic were alarmed to learn that their health records had been turned over to the state. The health system informed patients that it shared the records as part of a TennCare billing fraud investigation by the Tennessee attorney general’s office — but those records were only a small piece of the requests.

VUMC had been handing over information since Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti signed the first civil investigative demand, similar to a subpoena, in November. Two more followed in March. The three CIDs requested a broad swath of information, including messages from a general LGBTQ health email account, employment records for the transgender health care program and the Trans Buddy mentorship program and names of anyone referred to the center, even if they did not receive services. Court records also show a demand for documents "which contain information relating to an insufficient mental health diagnosis for services related to transgender health and gender affirming therapy" in addition to patient medical records and billing information.

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Q&A: Lawyer analyzes AG’s demands for VUMC patient records

J.D. Thomas unpacks broad civil investigative demands related to trans care

Hannah Herner

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