Transgender Health Equity: Patients Say Providers Lack Expertise And Understanding Of Transgender Health Needs

For the past five years, Massachusetts has mandated that insurers provide coverage for medical services related to the health of transgender people, including gender-affirming medical services. But it was not clear how well the mandate was working or whether people were able to access care now that services were covered. Were insurers covering the right services? What barriers were being encountered? Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation’s new program, the Health Equity Roundtable, set out to find answers to these questions by bringing together transgender men, transgender women, and transgender youth, along with parents, advocates, and clinicians to discuss the issues patients encounter in trying to access high-quality health services. Hosted by a well regarded local health center as a neutral convener, the roundtable drew a diverse group of transgender stakeholders who were eager to share their experiences about health care and health coverage. Thirty-three people participated in this first session, as well as two Harvard Pilgrim executives. What we discovered are numerous areas in which the health care system in Greater Boston fails the needs of transgender individuals. The findings are highlighted in Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation’s new report on Transgender Health Care in Greater Boston. Shortage Of Providers The report identified a serious shortage of providers who can sensitively and competently provide care—even routine care, such as annual physical...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Featured Health Equity Quality transgender discrimination transgender rights Source Type: blogs