“A bill to improve access to evidence-based, lifesaving health care for transgender people, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states the following congressional findings on gender-affirming care: (1) such care increases self-esteem and quality of life and decreases depression, self-harm, and suicidality in transgender people of all ages; (2) there is strong medical consensus supporting health care for transgender people, including youth, from specified organizations (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, World Professional Association for Transgender Health); (3) approximately 80% of students at 10 medical schools reported lacking competence in treating transgender patients; (4) this education gap is a significant barrier to appropriate care; and (5) experts are improving access through peer-to-peer education.
This section defines, for purposes of the Act, "gender-affirming care" as health care designed to treat gender dysphoria—including all related supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, such as medication, but excluding conversion therapy—and "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, to award three-year 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 on gender-affirming care and cultural competency for transgender patients. The section further requires the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with accrediting organizations, to disseminate such curricula and authorizes $10 million for each of FY2026 through FY2030.
This section establishes a demonstration program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services is to award grants to eligible entities to support (1) training for medical residents and fellows in gender-affirming care; (2) training for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, clinical psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers in gender-affirming care; and (3) academic programs that provide training for students or faculty—through clinical experiences—to deliver culturally competent gender-affirming care and that conduct research on evidence-based practices for such care, including curriculum standards. Eligible entities include, for training grants, consortia involving teaching health centers and accredited residency or fellowship programs, teaching health centers, federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, rural health clinics, Indian Health Service facilities, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and certain other training entities; for academic grants, schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or social work, physician assistant programs, accredited hospitals or residencies, and qualified nonprofit entities. Grant recipients must prioritize entities serving transgender populations or areas with limited access to gender-affirming care; grants are for at least five years; and $15 million is authorized annually for FY2026 through FY2030.
This section directs the Secretary, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator, to award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities—including teaching health centers, Federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs), community mental health centers, rural health clinics, Indian Health Service-operated health centers and those of Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Urban Indian organizations, and certain State or local entities—to expand capacity to provide gender-affirming care to transgender populations. Grants, with a minimum period of three years, may be used for health care professional training (including on nondiscrimination), establishing community review boards, updating electronic health records, and related administrative, operational, or technical costs. The section authorizes $15 million for each of FY2026 through FY2030.
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities—such as public or nonprofit private health care providers (e.g., critical access hospitals or health clinics), Federally-qualified health centers, health care professions schools, health care delivery sites with trainees, and licensing or accreditation entities—to establish collaborative networks that improve the quality of gender-affirming care (i.e., medical treatments such as hormone therapy or surgeries aligned with an individual's gender identity). Grantees may use funds to train rural health care providers (i.e., those serving areas not designated by the Census Bureau as urbanized areas or urban clusters), conduct provider-to-provider education and outreach to such providers, and perform patient education. The section authorizes $5 million for each of FY2026 through FY2030.
This section directs the Secretary to submit to Congress, not later than two years after the date of enactment, a report on the programs and activities under this Act. The report must describe (1) progress made in implementing those programs and activities and the extent to which they have improved health equity for transgender populations, and (2) recommendations for workforce development to improve access to, and the quality of, gender-affirming care for transgender populations.