Newly uncovered state data shows Pennsylvania taxpayers paid tens of millions of dollars for puberty-blocking drugs for minors, prompting federal investigators to examine whether Medicaid billing rules were abused. The spending raises serious questions about medical oversight, fiscal responsibility, and the use of public funds for controversial treatments involving children.
According to data obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, Pennsylvania reimbursed more than $76 million between 2020 and 2024 for puberty blockers prescribed to minors age 18 and under. The claims were billed under an ICD-10 diagnostic code for central precocious puberty, a rare condition normally diagnosed in children under age eight. Yet the data shows hundreds of claims for children ages 10 to 18, well outside the typical medical range for that diagnosis.
Medical experts interviewed by the outlet said such patterns are highly unusual. Pediatric endocrinologists noted that true central precocious puberty does not suddenly appear in large numbers among teenagers. They warned that diagnosing older children under this code suggests puberty blockers may have been prescribed for reasons unrelated to the condition the code is intended to cover.
The Department of Justice is investigating possible fraudulent billing practices connected to these reimbursements. Federal filings reportedly cite concerns that the diagnostic code was used as a workaround to secure insurance coverage for gender-related interventions that would otherwise not qualify for Medicaid funding.
As part of the investigation, more than 20 providers have reportedly received subpoenas, including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Court records indicate federal prosecutors are examining whether hundreds of older patients were improperly classified to justify coverage.
The findings intensify the national debate over puberty blockers for minors and reinforce concerns from parents, faith leaders, and lawmakers about protecting children and ensuring taxpayer dollars are not used to support unproven and ethically disputed medical practices.
