LGBTQ

How Can Providers Respond to the Wave of Laws Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors?

LGBTQ advocacy groups and clinicians argue that healthcare providers have a responsibility to treat the recent wave of laws banning gender-affirming care for minors like the public health crisis that it is. To do this, providers must educate themselves about the laws in their state and nearby states, fight misinformation and collaborate with nonprofits to deliver care to kids in states where their access is under attack.

By Katie Adams

MedCity Influencers

Uncovering Inequity in Cancer Care Among the LGBTQ+ Community

Although conversations around other LGBTQ+ issues are prevalent in mainstream culture, more work needs to be done on understanding our screening, treatment, and survivorship.

By Dr. Monique Gary

With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?

Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.

Consumer / Employer, Health Tech

LGBTQ+ Health Advocates Sound Alarm Over CDC Data On American Youth

In 2021, 69% of LGBQ+ teens reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, compared to 35% of heterosexual teens, according to a recent CDC report. This stat is likely understated because the report did not include information about those who identify as transgender, experts said.

By Marissa Plescia

Consumer / Employer, Payers

SCAN creates MA plan for LGBTQ+ seniors through partnership with Included Health

The health plan offered through SCAN includes care navigation services from Included Health, in which members can receive assistance in finding peer groups, support groups and community resources. Members can also receive virtual behavioral healthcare through Included Health.

By Marissa Plescia

Health Tech

Folx rakes in $30M to enhance direct-to-consumer LGBTQ health platform

LGBTQ virtual care platform Folx Health recently closed a $30 million Series B financing round, bringing the startup's total funding to date to roughly $60 million. The company will use the money to expand its services, including the addition of clinician-led support groups. The first of these support groups will focus on queer fertility and family planning.

By Katie Adams

Legal

Medical groups ask AG to investigate violence against hospitals that support transgender youth

Following a series of violent threats directed at medical centers that care for transgender youth, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association and Children’s Hospital Association urged U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate bomb threats and protect children’s hospitals and physicians. “The attacks are rooted in an intentional campaign of disinformation, where a […]

By Amanda James

Health Tech

LGBTQ patients’ preventive health knowledge lags behind the general population, report says

LGBTQ Americans have a lack of understanding of the preventive health services they need, compared to the general population, a new report found. In order to create targeted messaging campaigns to increase preventive health knowledge among the LGBTQ community, the healthcare industry needs to include more LGBTQ patients in medical research to better understand the population's health.

By Katie Adams

Legal, Payers, Employee Benefits

In a first, Colorado gets CMS approval to make gender-affirming care an essential health benefit

All individual and small group health plans in Colorado's Affordable Care Act marketplace must cover a wide range of gender-affirming services, including breast/chest construction and reductions and laser hair removal, starting Jan. 1, 2023.

By Anuja Vaidya

Legal, Payers

Lawsuit: Aetna fertility coverage policy “an illegal tax” on LGBTQ people

The lawsuit alleges that an Aetna policy discriminates against LGBTQ people by requiring them to pay thousands in out-of-pocket costs for fertility treatments before becoming eligible for coverage. Though Aetna has agreed to pay the costs incurred by the plaintiffs, the suit aims to strike down the policy as a whole.

By Anuja Vaidya

Policy, Payers

Supreme Court decision calls HHS’ reversal of LGBTQ protections into question

On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule removing protections for patients against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. On Monday, a landmark Supreme Court ruling forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace threw the future of HHS’ rule into question.

By Elise Reuter

Health Services

Maximize Revenue and Patient Care with Strategic Weight Loss Management

We will highlight Build My Health's revenue practice management tools, which could help physician practices add up to $250,000 to their practices.

By Build My Health and MedCity News

Health IT, Patient Engagement

CONVERGE: ResearchKit-based LGBTQ health study recruits thousands

Early next year, UCSF will release a questionnaire meant to create a longitudinal picture of health issues related to LGBTQ communities.

By Neil Versel

Daily

PRIDE study on LGBTQ health in U.S. began this week

Researchers from University of California San Francisco announced this week the launch of what will be a landmark study to understand the health of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) living in the United States. The Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality, or PRIDE, Study is meant to understand health […]