Transgender Health Care Access Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2487
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-19T08:05:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Transgender Health Care Access Act (H.R. 2487) aims to enhance access to gender-affirming health care for transgender individuals by addressing educational gaps, expanding training for health care providers, and building capacity in community and rural health settings. It promotes evidence-based care that treats gender dysphoria—a condition involving distress from a mismatch between one's gender identity and assigned sex at birth—while emphasizing medical consensus on its benefits for improving mental health and quality of life.
Key Provisions
- Findings (Sec. 3): Recognizes that gender-affirming care reduces depression, self-harm, and suicidality in transgender people; highlights support from major medical organizations (e.g., American Medical Association, World Health Organization); and notes education gaps, with about 80% of medical students feeling unprepared to treat transgender patients.
- Definitions (Sec. 4): Defines "gender-affirming care" as health services (medical, mental health, surgical, etc.) to treat gender dysphoria, including medications and preventive care, but excluding conversion therapy (efforts to change a person's gender identity).
- Improving Medical Education Curricula (Sec. 5): Authorizes $10 million annually (FY 2026–2030) for grants to health professions schools, training sites, and accreditation bodies to develop and disseminate model curricula on gender-affirming care and cultural competency. Curricula may include classroom teaching, clinical practice, simulations, and community-based learning; grants last 3 years.
- Training Demonstration Program (Sec. 6): Authorizes $15 million annually (FY 2026–2030) for grants to train residents, fellows, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers in gender-affirming care. Eligible entities include teaching health centers, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and academic programs; prioritizes those serving transgender populations or underserved areas; grants last at least 5 years.
- Expanding Capacity at Community Health Centers (Sec. 7): Authorizes $15 million annually (FY 2026–2030) for grants to FQHCs, rural clinics, mental health centers, and tribal health providers to build gender-affirming care capacity. Funds support staff training on nondiscrimination, community review boards, electronic health record updates, and operational costs; grants last at least 3 years.
- Training Rural Providers (Sec. 8): Authorizes $5 million annually (FY 2026–2030) for grants to create networks among rural providers (e.g., clinics, hospitals, schools) for peer-to-peer training, outreach, and patient education on gender-affirming care. Focuses on non-urban areas.
- Report to Congress (Sec. 9): Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report within 2 years of enactment, detailing program progress, improvements in health equity for transgender people, and workforce recommendations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new federal grant programs and funding streams under HHS authority, which do not currently exist in U.S. law specifically for gender-affirming care training and capacity building. It builds on existing frameworks like the Public Health Service Act (for teaching health centers) and Social Security Act (for FQHCs and rural clinics) by adding targeted requirements for transgender health education. No explicit repeals or amendments to prior laws are included; instead, it expands HHS's role in medical education and community health without altering insurance coverage, discrimination laws, or state regulations on care provision.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS (via Health Resources and Services Administration and National Institutes of Health) will administer grants, disseminate resources, and report to Congress, increasing administrative workload and federal spending (total authorization ~$450 million over 5 years). May foster coordination with accreditation bodies and tribal health services.
- Citizens: Transgender individuals, especially in underserved, rural, or community settings, could gain better access to competent care, potentially reducing health disparities and improving mental health outcomes. Health professionals may receive enhanced training, leading to more culturally sensitive services.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though alignment with World Health Organization guidelines could support U.S. positions in global health discussions on LGBTQ+ rights and equity.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Transgender Individuals: Primary beneficiaries through improved care access and reduced barriers.
- Health Care Providers and Trainees: Doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and students/residents who receive training; rural and community-based providers gain resources for competency building.
- Health Institutions: Medical schools, FQHCs, rural clinics, tribal health organizations, mental health centers, and accreditation entities eligible for grants and partnerships.
- Government and Oversight Bodies: HHS, Congress (via reporting), and state/local rural health offices involved in implementation and funding.
- Medical Organizations: Groups like the American Medical Association may influence curriculum development through collaboration.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable grant conditions under federal health laws, promoting nondiscrimination in training (e.g., via staff education), but does not mandate care provision or override state laws restricting gender-affirming treatments. Excludes conversion therapy, aligning with growing bans in some states.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges apparent; supports equal protection under the 14th Amendment by addressing health equity for a marginalized group, without infringing on free speech or religious freedoms in care delivery.
- Political: Could spark debate on federal involvement in transgender youth care (implied in findings for "all ages") and resource allocation amid broader cultural discussions on gender identity. Emphasizes evidence-based medicine to counter misinformation, potentially influencing future health policy and workforce standards neutrally.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Cosponsors (73)
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] and 23 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Transgender Health Care Access Act — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (16 pages)