No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states congressional findings concerning gender-affirming care, including that such care increases self-esteem and quality of life and decreases depression, self-harm, and suicidality in transgender people of all ages; that numerous medical and professional organizations (e.g., American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Endocrine Society, World Health Organization) support such care; that approximately 80% of students at 10 medical schools reported lacking competence in treating transgender patients; that this education gap is a significant barrier to appropriate care; and that experts are improving access through peer-to-peer education.
This section defines, for purposes of the Act— (1) "gender-affirming care" as health care designed to treat gender dysphoria, including all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature (including medication) relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria, and excluding conversion therapy; and (2) "Secretary" as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to award grants to eligible entities—including health professions schools, health care delivery sites with trainees, and licensing or accreditation entities—for developing, evaluating, and implementing model curricula, demonstration projects, and training projects to improve the provision of gender-affirming care. Curricula must include instruction on gender-affirming care and cultural competency in treating transgender patients and may employ pedagogical approaches such as didactic education, clinical education, simulated patient education, community-based research, and community-based learning. The Secretary, through the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health in collaboration with medical education accrediting organizations, must disseminate the model curricula. Grants are for three years, subject to annual review, with carryover funding permitted through the grant period, and $10 million is authorized for each of FY2026 through FY2030.
This section establishes a five-year minimum demonstration grant program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) awards grants to eligible entities—including teaching health centers, federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, rural health clinics, Indian Health Service facilities, and certain academic institutions—to support (1) training medical residents and fellows in gender-affirming care; (2) training nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, clinical psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers in gender-affirming care; and (3) academic programs providing clinical training and research to develop evidence-based gender-affirming care practices and curriculum standards. Eligible entities for resident/fellow training must include accredited primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatric, gynecology, endocrinology, or surgery programs or community-based settings serving transgender populations; HHS must prioritize applicants with a record of serving transgender individuals or areas with limited access to gender-affirming care. The section authorizes $15 million annually for FY2026 through FY2030.
This section directs the Secretary, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator, to award grants or cooperative agreements of at least three years to eligible entities—including teaching health centers, federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, rural health clinics, Indian Health Service-operated health centers (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1603), and certain state or local entities—to expand capacity to provide gender-affirming care to transgender populations. Grant funds may be used for staff training on nondiscrimination and gender-affirming care, establishing community review boards, updating electronic health records, and related administrative costs, with $15 million authorized for each of FY2026 through FY2030.
This section establishes a grant program administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities—such as public or nonprofit health care providers (e.g., critical access hospitals), federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), health professions schools, training sites, and licensing entities—to create collaborative networks that train rural health care providers in gender-affirming care. Allowable activities include provider training, provider-to-provider education and outreach, and patient education (with rural areas defined as those not designated by the Census Bureau as urbanized or urban clusters); $5 million is authorized for each of FY2026 through FY2030.
This section requires the Secretary to submit to Congress, not later than two years after enactment, a report on programs and activities under this Act describing (1) progress in implementation and improvements in health equity for transgender populations and (2) recommendations for workforce development to improve access to and quality of gender-affirming care for transgender populations.