Medicare Whistleblower Nurse Vanessa Sivadge at Texas Childrens Hospital Fired

Today, Nurse Vanessa Sivadge was fired from Texas Childrens Hospital. Sivadge had accused the hospital of committing Medicaid fraud by billing for transgender procedures under a no-cost Medicaid managed care plan, which, according to Texas law, does not cover gender-affirming care for minors. This led to an investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton into these allegations. Sivadge claimed that doctors at the hospital pressured parents into consenting to hormone therapy and other transgender interventions for their children, warning of potential suicide risks if treatments were not pursued. This manipulation was allegedly done to bypass legal restrictions on such treatments. Following her public statements, Sivadge reported that FBI agents visited her home, suggesting she was a "person of interest" in an investigation related to another whistleblower, Dr. Eithan Haim, who had also exposed the hospital's practices. This has been interpreted by some as an attempt to intimidate her. Sivadge's actions have drawn support from those who believe she's defending ethical medical practices and the rights of minors against potentially harmful interventions. Conversely, she's faced criticism or threats, which some interpret as attempts to silence whistleblowers on this topic.Her allegations have spurred calls for legislative hearings in Texas to investigate not just the hospital's practices but also broader implications of federal involvement in such cases. This situation has become emblematic of the larger debate over transgender healthcare for minors, involving legal, ethical, and political dimensions.