The California Senate Health Committee has passed legislation requiring that staff and contracted providers of Medi-Cal managed care or healthcare service plans complete evidence-based cultural competency training. This training would be embedded within continuing medical education (CME), with the goal of providing trans-inclusive healthcare for patients identifying as transgender, gender nonconforming and intersex. "These trainings are often very difficult to find, which results in only a small amount of properly trained clinicians," said Erin Pollard, a specialist in gender-affirming mental health care for LGBTQ+ patients. She added, "In order for care to be affirming and inclusive, the clinician needs to not only understand medical transition options, but also the complex social and emotional impact of being trans, nonbinary or intersex in our society." State Sen. Richard Pan (D) specified that accreditation would be included, given the training's incorporation into CME. "I believe that more training is the right direction to go to be inclusive of the [large amounts of] information that need to be understood to be a better provider," said state Sen. Monique Limon (D). "We have to get training continuously, and the reason we do this is because there is always more we can learn. And if we only do it on a one-time basis and not do it ongoing, we limit how helpful we can be."
Read More