More people than ever have health insurance coverage because of the Affordable Care Act, but we know that having insurance doesn't necessarily mean lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans have a friendly or competent provider to meet their needs. Only half of LGBTQ Coloradans say that they have a provider competent to serve them, according to our recently released Closing the Gap: The Turning Point for LGBTQ Health, fewer than when we first studied LGBTQ health in 2011.
Are you a provider looking for education on how to better serve your LGBTQ patients? Are you an LGBTQ patient looking for resources and information on your specific health needs?
We've got you covered. In One Colorado's new health resource hub, located on our website, you can find:
• Information on how to prescribe PrEP and hormone therapy, as well as where to find guidance to care for transgender patients, according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)
• How to create an inclusive environment within your practice, including best practices on intake forms, screening questions, and data collection practices
• Documentation on the importance of coming out to your provider, how to respond to bias, and health issues to be aware of based on your sexual orientation or gender identity
• An explanation of your state and federal rights and protections and state resources for transgender Coloradans
Check out the resources tab on the One Colorado website, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you're looking for something that isn't there. We're excited to work with you to make sure every person in Colorado has access to safe, affordable, and affirming comprehensive health care.
