17 Mar Healthcare Resources and HRT for the Transgender Community in Maryland and Massachusetts
Hi Everyone,
You know that we want you to be healthy and safe. To help you with your health care journey we are creating a list, by state of health care organizations that serve the transgender, nonbinary, gender queer and non-comforming community. While we are creating this site for you, we are also doing this weekly post on health care. While it’s nice to have a list, in these posts we can also give you a few details on what each of the organizations we post actually do. We’ll just go through the states alphabetically, unless you send us a note and request a particular state and we’ll move requests to the top of the list.
This week we are covering Maryland and Massachusetts for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-Conforming Care.
Many resources are, to their credit, creating comfortable places for routine and proactive health maintenaince as well as interventionary health care. We will try to highlight what is offered in each case.
If you still can’t find the health care you need, drop us a note on FB (B.UR.SLF LLC), instagram/ twitter @burslfllc or email burslfllc@gmail.com and we will see what we can do to help.
This week we are listing resources for Maryland and Massachusetts.
Maryland
The University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (Website – Transgender Family Health Services, FB – University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, IG – none found)
Transgender Family Health Services offers hormone therapy and puberty blockers as well as primary care and gender-affirming gynecology. Support and guidance is offered for the trans patient as well as family, partners and friends of transgender clients. Referrals are available for surgery and other services.
Payment options are not obvious. The University of Maryland Children’s Hospital through the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) has medicare options and finanancial assistance, clickk the links for more information.
Transgender Family Health Services is located in Baltimore.
The program will see patients of all ages, pediatric, adolescents and adults, although medical treatment typically doesn’t start until a client is approaching or past puberty.
John Hopkins Medicine (Website – The Center for Transgender Health, FB – John Hopkins Medicine, IG – @hopkinsmedicine)
The Center for Transgender Health provides a wide range of non-surgical and surgical services for transgender individuals. Non-surgical services include gender-affirming hormone therapy and puberty blockers as well as primary care. Referrals are availalbe for adolescents who wish to have gender-affirming surgery. There are many other services such as fertility blocking, fertility assistance and fertility preservation, urology, gynecology, dermatorlogy and voice therapy.
Payment Options: Johh Hopkins accepts most insurance and has finanacial assistance and payment plans, check the links for more information.
The Center for Transgender Health is in Baltimore
The program accepts patients from 5 years old to adults.
Chase Brexton Health Care (Website – Trans Care, FB – Chase Brexton Health Care, IG – @chasebrexton)
Chase Brexton Health Care offers LGBT Health including a Trans Care program focused on both Pediatric Trans Care and Adult Trans Care. Pediatric Trans Care highlights the following services, routine pediatric medical care, puberty blockers, hormone therapy, gynecology and counseling for fertility preservation. Adult Trans Care highlights primary care, infectious disease care and gynecological and care. It is assumed that hormone therapy would be available for adults. Behavior and dental services are also available. The LGBT Health program also offers extensive sexual health care including PEP/PrEP for HIV.
Payment Options: Charles Brexton offers different payment options including accepting Medicare, most insurance, financial assistance, sliding fee scales and will help you apply for medical insurance.
Trans Care is offered in multiple locations including Baltimore, Columbia, Easton,Glen Burnie and Randallstown, but only on specific days and times so click the link and check the website for this information. Chase Brexton Healh Care also offers telehealth.
Trans Care serves pediatric, adolescent and adult patients.
Star Track Adolescent Health Program (Website –Your Trans Care (YTC), FB – Star Track Adolescent Health Care IG – @startrackbaltimore)
The YTC program offers primary care to transgender patients as well as specialty services like hormone therapy, puberty blocking, referrals and coordination for gender affirming surgery, trans-affirming gynecology, fertility preservation counseling, and support to family, friends and partners of the transgender client.
YTC also provides HIV testing and prevention.
Payment options are not obvious.
YTC is located in Baltimore
YTC serves patients ages 12 through 21.
Planned Parenthood of Maryland has (9) Planned Parenthood Health Centers that are part of (2) Planned Parenthood organizations Planned Parenthood League of Maryland, Inc. (PPLM) (Website – PPM , FB – Planned Parenthood of Maryland, IG – @ppmaryland) and Planned Parenthood of Metropoliton Washingtong, DC, Inc. (Website – PPMWDC, FB – PPMWDC, IG – PPMWDC) PPM has (7) locations in Maryland and a Gender Affirming Care program and in addition to providing hormone replacement therapy to 18+ patients, PPM offers HRT to patients 16 & 17 with parents permission. Easton Health Center is the Health Center that offers HRT on site, but HRT is offered through out Maryland via Telehealth. The Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Inc Health Centers are located in Annapolis, Baltimore, Easton, Frederick, Owing Mills, Towson, and Waldorf. Planned Parenthood of Metropoliton PPMWDC has (2) locations in Maryland and offers hormone replacement therapy at their Health Centers and by Telehealth through their Gender Affirming Care program, The PPMWDC Health Centers in Maryland are located in Gaithersburg and Suitland. If you aren’t near one of these locations, contact PPM for a telehealth appointment for anywhere in Maryland.
PPM and PPMWDC offer other important services such as wellness screenings/ exams, reproductive health, prevention and treatmet of infections, STIs and HIV at both health centers and by telehealth.
Payment Options: Many PP Health Centers accept insurance and offer financial help, check on the websites and with the center for details .
The service is intended for adults 18+, but some PP Health Centers offer service to patients 16 to 17 andyou may be able to get HRT with parental consent and additional paperwork, check with the Health Center.
Trans Healthcare MD (Website – Trans Healthcare MD, FB – Trans Maryland IG – @transhealthcaremd)
Trans Healthcare MD is a digital resource for locating hormone therapy providers around the state of Maryland. Click the links above or this link for gender affirming care in Maryland.
Payment Options: vary by service provider, check with the provider.
This is an online resource for locating providers around the state of Maryland
Ages served vary by provider, check with the provider.
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans near Maryland (Websites – Wahsington DC VA Medical Center FB – U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, IG – @VeteranAffairs)
According to the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, Patient Care Services for LGBT veterans includes the following (and other) services – hormone treatment, treatment and prevention of STIs/PrEP, cancer screening, prevention and treatment. If there are questions reach out to the LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator (VCC) at the site.
Payment Options: VA Health Care is offered free of charge to veterans. Veterans may have some copays.
Washington DC VA Medical Center has (1) medical center in Washington, DC and (6) associated clinicswith (4) in Charlotte Hall, Washington Park, Gaithersbur, Camp Springs all in Maryland, (1) in Washington, DC and (1) in Fort Belvoir in Virginia
LGBT Veteran Care is for U.S. veterans.
Massachusetts
Fenway Health (Website – Transgender Health, FB –Fenway Health , IG – @fenwayhealth)
The Youth Clinic at Fenway Health provides gender affirming hormone therapy.
Payment Options: Fenway Health has a financial assistance counseling and insurance enrollment program. It is assumed they accept insurance and no one is denied care based on their ability to pay. Click the link for more information.
There are multiple locations in the Boston area, click the link for details.
The age of patients served varies by clinic, so check the website and individual clinics for more information.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Website – Transgender Health Program, FB – Massachusetts General Hospital , IG – @massgeneral)
The Transgender Health Program focuses on gender-affirming primary care. Hormone therapy is available and also links to surgical services..
Payment Options: Massachusetts General accepts most insurance and has a financial assistance program. Check the links for assistance.
Massachusetts General Hospital serves the Boston and Boston-Area.
Services appear to be available to adolescents and adults.
Boston Medical (Website – Transgender Medicine and Surgery, FB – Boston Medical Center , IG – @bostonmedicalcenter)
Transgender Medicine and Surgery offers hormone therapy, infectious disease prevention, screening and treatment, voice therapy and surgical services for patients 18+
Payment Options: Boston Medical accepts insurance and will help the uninsured find coverage options. See the billing and insurance link for more information.
Boston Medical Center is in Boston and offers telehealth.
Services are for adolescents and adults except for surgery which is limited to 18+.
Baystate Health (Website – Transgender Services, FB – Baystate Health , IG – @bay_statehealth)
Transgender Services provides gender confirming hormone therapy, pubertyblockers, primary care, prepartion for gender-confirming surgeriess, routine GYN care, and screening for infectious diseases.
Payment Options: Baystate Health accepts most insurance and has finanacial assistance, click the payment options link for more information.
Baystate Health has muliple locations in Sprinfield and Northampton and offers telehealth.
Ages served is not stated, but services appear to be for adults.
MIT Medical (Website – Transgender Health, FB – MIT Medical , IG – @mitmedical)
Transgender Health offers hormone therapy, primary care, from healthcare providers knowledgeable about transgender issues, gynecological care and referrals to other services and surgeeons. MIT Medical offers additional services through the LGBTQ Health program, like sexual health, which includes PEP/PrEP for HIV prevention.
Payment Options: no obvious payment options, likely dependent on the provide, contact the provider for more information.
Transgender Health is located in Cambridge.
MIT medical serves students and adults.
University of Amherst, University Health Services (Website – Transgender Health, FB – none, IG – none)
The Transgender Health program provides hormone therapy and primary. The University Health Services can give referrals to local surgeons who perform gender-affirming surgery.
Payment Options: Student insurance covers transgender services and most common gender-confirming surgeries. For non-students, University Health Services accepts may insurance plans. Click the insurance and billing link for more information.
Transgender Health at University Health Services is located in Amherts
Services appear to be for students and adults.
Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts has (4) Health Centers that are part of (1) organization, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPMASS), FB – ppmass , IG – @PlannedParenthood)
PPMASS provides hormone therapy, through their Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy program. PPMASS also provides routine gyneological screenings, prevention, testing and treatment of HIV/STI, birth control, condoms and many other services.
Payment Options: Many PP Health Centers accept insurance and offer financial help, check on the websites and with the center for details .
The service is intended for adults 18+, but some PP Health Centers offer service to patients 16 to 17 andyou may be able to get HRT with parental consent and additional paperwork, check with the Health Center.
Stonewall Center (Website – Trans Resource Guide for Western Massachusetts, FB – Stonewall Center , IG – @umass.stonewall)
Stonewall Center provided a comprehensive online guide for trans healthcare resources in Western Massachusetts.
Payment Options: vary by providers, check with the provider.
The Stonewall center is located in Amherst and the healthcare providers have various locations check with the provider.
Ages served vary by provider, check with the providers.
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in Massachusetts (Websites – VA Boston Health Care System, VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System and VA Bedford Health Care System, FB – U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, IG – @VeteranAffairs)
According to the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, Patient Care Services for LGBT veterans includes the following (and other) services – hormone treatment, treatment and prevention of STIs/PrEP, cancer screening, prevention and treatment. If there are questions reach out to the LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator (VCC) at the site.
Payment Options: VA Health Care is offered free of charge to veterans. Veterans may have some copays.
VA Boston Health Care System has (3) medical centers in Broxton, Boston and West Roxbury (5) associated clinics in Boston, Farmingham, Lowell, Plymouth and Quincy.
VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System has (1) medical center in Leeds and (5) associated clinics in Pitchburg, Greenfield, Pittsburgh, Springfield and Worcester.
VA Bedford Health Care System has (1) medical center, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, in Bedford and (3) associated clinics in Gloucester, Haverhill and Lynn.
LGBT Veteran Care is for U.S. veterans.
About the author, Gayle M. Frankenbach, Ph.D. is the mother of a Daughter, Lise and a transgender son Elliott. Elliott and Gayle both passionately desire to care about and care for the trans community. Elliott and Gayle also both love the unbound creativity of the cosplay community. When we realized there is a big overlap between the two communities B.UR.SLF, LLC was born at the interface of these two great communities to serve them individually and together. Elliott and Gayle also enjoy running a trans son & parent business to be visible for parents on a journey to visibly support their own trans kids and be a great allies.