NYU Langone, UPMC settle DOJ probe, end youth gender care

NYU Langone Health and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have agreed to pay a combined $9.5 million to settle a federal investigation and end gender-affirming care for minors, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday. The settlements mark the latest in a series of agreements with major hospital systems as part of a nationwide DOJ campaign. Under the agreements, NYU Langone will pay $8.5 million and UPMC will pay $950,000. Both hospital systems will cease providing services such as puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgical procedures to patients under 18. The DOJ stated the settlements follow investigations into potential violations of federal law, including allegations of fraudulent billing for gender-affirming care. Both institutions emphasized the settlements are not admissions of wrongdoing. "NYU Langone has not entered into this settlement because of any wrongdoing and has affirmatively denied any wrongdoing or liability in the agreement," said spokesperson Steve Ritea.