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Boston Children’s Hospital took $1.4M of taxpayer dollars for ‘Gender Transition Services’

By CM Chaney · October 31, 2023

In brief…

  • Boston Children's Hospital received over $1.4 million from MA for gender transition services from 2015-2023
  • Faced criticism in 2022 for performing transition surgeries on minors
  • Performed over 200 gender affirmation surgeries from 2017-2020, including on underage patients
  • Offered procedures like chest augmentation to minors 15+ with parental consent
  • Teenage transition surgeries have nearly tripled since 2016, with many using Medicaid
Boston Children's Hospital was reimbursed over $1.4 million by Massachusetts for gender transition services from 2015-2023 amid growing scrutiny over surgeries performed on minors.  Joseph Barillari / Wikimedia

Boston Children’s Hospital received over $1.4 million in reimbursements from Massachusetts for “gender transition services” between 2015-2023, documents show. This occurred as the hospital faced growing criticism for its transgender health program.

The hospital pioneered one of the first pediatric transgender programs, but faced backlash in 2022 for performing gender surgeries on minors. Its website listed procedures like vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, chest reconstruction, and breast augmentation.

From 2015-2023, Massachusetts’ health department reimbursed the hospital for services including counseling, hormones, inpatient care and surgeries.

During this period, Children’s performed 204 “gender affirmation” surgeries per its own study, including 177 chest reconstructions and 65 on under-18s.

Its now-deleted website contained videos on procedures and guides on discussing transitioning. Though it claimed surgery wasn’t a first step, it offered chest augmentation to minors 15 and up with parental approval.

Vaginoplasty was available to 17-year-olds without parental consent, while procedures like phalloplasty required 18+. The hospital did not comment on if public funds covered underage surgeries.

Children’s states its gender care is scientifically-grounded to support transgender youth. Its reproductive health program now provides adult services like hysterectomies.

Resources even suggest safe “tucking” with duct tape for teens, though not recommended. But surgeries among American teenagers have nearly tripled since 2016, with over 25% using Medicaid.