Healthcare/ HRT for Trans People in Maryland & Massachusetts

Health Care Resources in Maryland and Massachusetts

17 Mar Healthcare Resources and HRT for the Transgender Community in Maryland and Massachusetts

Posted at 11:58h in Trans Health Care, Transgender Health Care, Wellness Wednesday by Gayle Frankenbach

Hi Everyone,

This has become a very challenging time for almost all Americans and especially for the LGBTQ+ community. While we work to meet these challenges and support each other it is import to make sure we take care of our own health. We are updating our #WellnessWednesday posts to document sites that are still compassionately offering Gender-affirming health services. We are doing this work by states in alphabetical order.

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 maintenance 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), IG/ 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

Maryland is a state that actively supports access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender and gender diverse individuals. Several key initiatives and laws have been enacted to ensure these services are accessible and protected including:

The Trans Shield Act: This law protects access to gender-affirming care by adding it to Maryland’s definition of legally protected healthcare.

Trans Health Equity Act: This act, effective January 1, 2024, expanded the Maryland Medicaid program to cover a wider range of gender-affirming care services, including hormone therapy, voice surgery, hair removal, and various surgeries.

Medicad Coverage: Maryland Medicaid now covers a broad spectrum of gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, lab testing, voice surgery and therapy, hair removal and transplants, facial surgery, top surgery, gender-affirming surgery, and preventative care after transition.

Sanctuary State: Maryland has declared itself a sanctuary state for transgender individuals, safeguarding them from legal repercussions related to gender-affirming care, including out-of-state subpoenas, warrants, civil liability, and extradition.

No Age Limits with Consent: There are no specific age limits for gender-affirming care in Maryland, but parental consent is required for minors.

Informed Consent: Some providers, like the UMD Health Center, operate on an informed consent model for hormone therapy, meaning a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and letters of support are not always required.

Many helpful topics for transgender individuals in Maryland are covered in the following – Guidance Memorandum: Guidance to the LGBTQIA+ Community Concerning Protections Under Maryland Law

The University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (Website – Division of Community Pediatrics and Young Adult Medicine, FB – University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, IG – none found)

Transgender Family Health Services website is blocked. This part of the University of Maryland HealthCare system provides 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. Contact the Division of Community Pediatrics and Young Adult Medicine for more information.

Payment options are not obvious. Contact the provider for more information.

Service providers are located in Baltimore.

The program has a history of serving 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: John Hopkins accepts most insurance and has financial 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 and adult gender-affirming care highlight 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: Contact the provider to learn about payment options.

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 Health Care also offers telehealth.

Trans Care serves pediatric, adolescent and adult patients.

The University of Maryland Medical System and the Division of Community Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (Website –AYAC & Star Track, FB – Star Track Adolescent Health Care IG – @startrackbaltimore)

The University of Maryland Medical System also has a comprehensive Transgender Health program that provides a range of gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, referrals for surgery, and mental health support. They have specialists in Adult Endocrinology, Adolescent and Pediatric Endocrinology, and the THRIVE Program which focuses on transgender patients living with or seeking prevention for HIV alongside gender-affirming hormones. You can reach out to their specialists to explore your options.

The University of Maryland does not appear to have active links to show services, but in the past services included 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.

The University of Maryland Medical System also provides sexual health service along with HIV testing and prevention through AYAC and Star Track.

Payment options are not obvious, contact the provider.

The University of Maryland Medical System, AYAC & Star Track programs are located in primarily in Baltimore

YTC serves patients ages 12 through 21.

Plume Clinic 100% On-Line Gender-Affirming and Trans-Focused Healthcare (Website – Plume, FB – Plume Clinic, IG – @plume_clinic)

Plume Clinic offers 100% on-line gender-affirming and trans-focused care for your full authentic self. They offer a wide range of services including gender-affirming hormone therapy transition support, sexual health services, mental health and everyday wellness.

Click the maryland link for Plume Clinic online services.

Payment Options: Plume accepts self-pay in Alaska for their monthly membership plans.

Patients must be 19 years of age to get services from Plume

TrueU Clinic (Website – Gender-Affirming Care, FB –True U Clinic, IG – True U Clinic).

True U Clinic offers gender-affirming hormone therapy, PrEP and STD testing and treatment.

Payment Options: click the pricing link for information.

True U Clinic is a digital service that partners with local labs for testing.

Services are for 18+ adults.

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 Metropolitan Washington, 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 Metropolitan 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 treatment 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 and you may be able to get HRT with parental consent and additional paperwork, check with the Health Center.

Trans Healthcare MD (Website – none, FB – Trans Maryland IG – none)

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 We are no longer recommending VA Health Care sites and clinics as safe spaces for LGBTQ people to receive health care.

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, puberty blockers, primary care, preparation for gender-confirming surgeries, routine GYN care, and screening for infectious diseases.

Payment Options: Baystate Health accepts most insurance and has financials assistance, click the payment options link for more information.

Baystate Health has multiple locations in Springfield and Northampton and offers telehealth.

Ages served is not stated, but services appear to be for adults.

MIT Health (Website – Transgender Health, FB – MIT Health , IG – @mithealth)

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 – none, FB – none, IG – none)

University of Amherst provides support to students who are transitioning including 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 Amherst

Services appear to be for students and adults.

Plume Clinic 100% On-Line Gender-Affirming and Trans-Focused Healthcare (Website – Plume, FB – Plume Clinic, IG – @plume_clinic)

Click the Massachusetts link for Plume Clinic online services.

Payment Options: Plume accepts self-pay in Alaska for their monthly membership plans.

Patients must be 19 years of age to get services from Plume

TrueU Clinic (Website – Gender-Affirming Care, FB –True U Clinic, IG – True U Clinic).

True U Clinic offers gender-affirming hormone therapy, PrEP and STD testing and treatment.

Payment Options: click the pricing link for information.

True U Clinic is a digital service that partners with local labs for testing.

Services are for 18+ 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 .

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 We are no longer recommending VA Health Care sites and clinics as safe spaces for LGBTQ people to receive care.

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.