Trans in a Red State? Here are 5 Steps You Can Take Right Now
These times are unprecedented, and access to best practice healthcare is a moving target. From my knowledge and experience as a trans PMHNP, here are some steps you or your family could take to protect your access to care.
1: If you still have access to your gender-affirming hormone treatment, ask your provider if they’d be able to write you as many refills as they’re comfortable, up to a year.
Many of the healthcare bans keep providers from being able to write NEW prescriptions, but ones written prior to the bans going into effect may still get filled at the pharmacy.
But we’ll talk about pharmacies next….
2: See if you can get your provider to send your prescription to a mail order pharmacy. There are a few nationwide mail-order pharmacies you can choose from, and one might be preferred by your insurance company.
Here’s why — if you’re in a red state and you go to a standalone pharmacy, it’s possible that a pharmacist could refuse to fill your prescription.
Pharmacists are our allies in this, too. If you know and trust your pharmacy, or your provider knows and trusts your pharmacy, then you might not want or need to make that change. If that isn’t the case, you may be safer going with a mail order pharmacy, or one attached to an LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare center.
3: Do some research into healthcare agencies that provide this care in a neighboring state, or the closest state you could reasonably travel to once every few months for a telehealth visit.
Our licenses dictate that our patients must be located in a place we’re licensed DURING the time of the appointment. So if you can drive across the border and do a telehealth appointment, you might be able to get seen.
You’ll need to call and ask what their requirements are, and their wait list, but it’s worth doing some planning.
4: Search for lists of affirming providers in your state. Many state-specific trans rights organizations will have provider referral lists, so you can look for those. You can also search for affirming providers on the OutList Directory through Outcare Health. They have a robust list of healthcare providers or different specialties across the country.
5: If you need support, feel overwhelmed, or are (rightfully) angry, scared, feeling hopeless, or anything of the like, please don’t hesitate to call Trans Lifeline. It’s not just for crisis, or feeling suicidal. You can call if you need someone to vent to, someone to listen, and to feel heard.
I won’t name specific organizations to turn to for healthcare, because unfortunately I worry about them getting attacked. You’ll want to do some googling of your own.
I’m so sorry this is the situation we’re in. But those are some concrete steps you can take to access the care you need and deserve.
May we all live to continue fighting for our right to bodily autonomy and liberation.
In Solidarity,
Jess
Resources:
https://www.outcarehealth.org/outlist/
https://translifeline.org/ - Call 877-565-8860
Resources tracking current state of the legislation:
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/anti-trans-legislative-risk-assessment-96f
Shield Laws: https://lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/healthcare/trans_shield_laws
Bans on Best Practice Medical Care - Youth: https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/healthcare/youth_medical_care_bans
Insurance Exclusions for Gender-Affirming Healthcare: https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/healthcare_laws_and_policies
