July 29th, 2015 Austin, Texas USA: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton testifies in front of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, just a few days before a grand jury indicts him on three felonies.Two charges of first-degree securities fra …
DALLAS - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a pediatric doctor and children's hospital, claiming they illegally provided gender-transition treatments to minors and billed Medicaid using misleading codes.
Court documents claim Dr. Jason Jarin and Children's Health System of Texas misrepresented patients' genders to bill Texas Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program for puberty blockers and other gender-affirming care in violation of the state's ban on gender interventions in minors.
Jarin's biography page lists him as specializing in pediatric and adolescent gynecology.
This is the fourth lawsuit filed by Paxton claiming a violation of the state's ban on gender-affirming care.
Ken Paxton sues Dallas doctor for providing gender-affirming care to minors
This is the third Texas doctor to be sued by the Office of the Attorney General for allegedly violating a law prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors.
The lawsuit claims that Jarin prescribed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors after the ban took effect and used incorrect billing codes and changed patients' sex in billing records to prevent claim denials.
Paxton, while calling Jarin a "radical gener activist," said the accused actions violate the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act and Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
The other side:
In a statement, Children's Health said they comply with all applicable laws.
"Our top priority is the health and well-being of the patients and families we serve," Children's Health said. "We comply with all applicable local, state and federal health care laws."
Jarin is fourth doctor sued by Paxton
Jarin is the fourth doctor to be sued by the attorney general over violations of Senate Bill 14, and the third that names Children's Health and their doctors.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill barring trans youth from accessing transition-related care
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14 into law Friday, which bars transgender juveniles from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapies.
Texas passed Senate Bill 14 in 2023, which prohibits medical providers from prescribing certain treatments for gender-affirming care for minors, including cross-sex hormones.
The ban does allow for doctors to continue some treatments that were started prior to the ban in order to wean patients off of treatments.
Paxton is seeking more than $1 million in the case, including civil penalties against Children's Health and Jarin.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the attorney general's office and Children's Health. Backstory on Senate Bill 14 and previous lawsuits comes from previous FOX reporting.