Via his Twitter account, Matt Walsh recently unveiled the corruption and fraud endemic to the health care industry’s model for gender affirming surgery. Walsh’s producer, Gregg, posed an individual suffering from gender dysphoria, and was given approval for testicle removal in a mere 22-minute consultation.
The primary providers of trans healthcare, such as Plume Clinic and the telehealth service Folx, provide letters endorsing surgeries without sufficient scrutiny and potentially exploiting diagnosis codes to secure insurance coverage for these procedures. Such methods are criticized for reducing the role of healthcare workers from medical professionals to mere facilitators, bypassing the psychological and physical implications these surgeries may have on patients.
Ari Groner, a licensed clinical social worker educating doctors on trans healthcare, encourages healthcare professionals to write whatever letters patients require, saying they are not “gatekeepers.” This narrative, while advocating autonomy for patients, fails to acknowledge the potential misuse of these letters as “persuasive essays,” leading to approvals for even suicidal patients.
Furthermore, it is noted that insurance companies would not cover these surgeries without a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Healthcare workers are, therefore, encouraged to provide this diagnosis, regardless of its actuality, to ensure patients receive treatment.
In Gregg’s case, there were several red flags, including a lack of sustained gender dysphoria and a clear lack of understanding of the implications of the procedure. Moreover, the letter of approval was standardized and seemingly copy-pasted, and the verbal consultation lacked the expected level of scrutiny, with the nurse practitioner failing to question apparent anomalies in Gregg’s narrative including self-administration of hormones prescribed by his father.
The remarkable growth of these providers, with Plume now operating in 41 states and Folx in 47, prompts questions about the forces driving this industry. With substantial investment secured, including over $45 million raised last year alone, it is evident that substantial financial interests are vested in this sector.
Major insurance companies are reportedly cooperating with these providers. However, their knowledge about the practices of such providers and the potential falsities in the information they rely on for approvals remains unclear.
Meanwhile, legislative responses are beginning to emerge. Florida recently passed a law restricting most trans telehealth services, raising an outcry from trans activists who view the law as excessively burdensome. This backlash underscores the perceived corruption and fraud within the industry, stirring demands for comprehensive reform.
