Overview
- Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the suit on Jan. 30 in San Diego Superior Court, alleging Rady violated conditions tied to its 2024 merger approval with CHOC.
- The merger terms required maintaining specialty services, including gender-affirming care, through 2034 and prior AG approval for any reduction, which Bonta says Rady did not seek.
- Rady announced on Jan. 20 it would end medical interventions, procedures and prescriptions for patients under 19 effective Feb. 6, while continuing counseling, mental health resources and care coordination.
- Bonta seeks a permanent injunction, civil penalties and restoration of services to the types and levels provided at the January 2025 merger, estimating roughly 1,450 patients are affected.
- Rady cites escalating federal actions and an HHS Inspector General referral that it says threaten Medicare and Medicaid participation; federal proposals remain under review with public comment open until Feb. 17, and the hospital says it will address the claims in court.