Making healthcare reform LGBT inclusive

As Congress and the Obama Administration begin to change the American healthcare system to ensure that all Americans have equitable access to the full continuum of health promotion, prevention and treatment services, we must also be able to effectively address the needs of distinct populations within the populace. For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, social stigma and systemic discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity have led to decades of obstructed access to adequate LGBT affirmative and culturally competent healthcare. In order to begin to address these disparities, any healthcare reform must be fully LGBT inclusive.

To begin to eliminate health disparities in the LGBT communities, healthcare reform must address and implement clear and guiding principles that are based on solid clinical standards integrated with a compassionate understanding of the healthcare issues facing this vulnerable population. In order to have effective and comprehensive healthcare reform, all legislative actions and governmental policy must fully embrace the LGBT community.

Working with colleague organizations, the National Coalition for LGBT Health has developed a document titled Guiding Principles for LGBT Inclusion in Healthcare Reform. This document attempts to address the many needs of LGBT people within healthcare including access to equitable care, transgender health coverage and cultural competency. This presentation will discuss this document, recent developments in healthcare reform and how individuals and organizations can become involved.