05 May Healthcare Resources and HRT for the Transgender Community in New Mexico, NYC and New York
Hi Everyone,
You know that we want you to be healthy and safe. 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.
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), instagram/ twitter @burslfllc or email burslfllc@gmail.com and we will see what we can do to help.
This week we are summarizing the legal picture and health care resources for NYC and New York State.
New Mexico
Healthcare for transgender people is protected and available in New Mexico, thanks to the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act which prohibits discrimination and ensures access to services. New Mexico has a significant and dedicated support organization, the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM).
University of New Mexico (UNM) Truman Health Services and Community Health Services (Website – Hormone Concerns for Transgender Patients FB – UMN Health Services, IG – @umnhsc)
UNM Health is a recognized LGBTQ Health Care leader that offers Core gender-affirming HRT, primay care, sexual and reproductive care, including routine screenings for cancers, contraception, family planning, STI/HIV and infectious disease testing, treatment and prevention including PrEP, sexual health and cancer screenings and and UNM has a dedicated LGBTQ Resource Center click the link for resources.
Payment Options: UMN Health accepts insurance plans and has financial assistance for those in need.
Truman Health Services is located in Albequerque and UMN Health has clinic locations across New Mexico and telehealth.
Call the provider for age limitations on services.
University of New Mexico (UMN) Student Health & Counseling (SHAC) (Website – SHAC, FB – UNM Student Health & Counseling, IG – uofnm)
SHAC @ UNM provides gender-confirming HRT, sexual health including STI testing and treatment, HIV prevention including PrEP and PEP. cancer screenings, contraception and emergency contraception.
Payment Options: UMN accepts many insurance plans (not medicare) and also has offers Student Health Insurance Plan. There is no obvious financial aid for medical services, but the website states all students are welcome to be seen by SHAC.
UMN SHAC is on the the UMN campus in Albuquerque.
SHAC serves students at the University of New Mexico.
True U 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.
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 New Mexico 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
Planned Parenthood New Mexico is part of the Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains organization. New Mexico has 5 Health Care Centers and a telehealth center (Website – Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains , FB – Planned Parenthood IG – @plannedparenthood)
Planned Parenthood typically offers a variety of services which may include gender-confirming HRT. Planned parenthood primary care, sexual health, HIV, SIT testing, counseling, and treatment PEP and PrEP, contraception, and gynecological care including PAP smears. Check the individual clinics for services.
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has (5) Health Centers (2) are in Albuquerque, Northeast Height Health Center, Eubanks Health Center, and (3) more at Farmington Health Center, Santa Fe Health Center and Las Cruces Health Center. Also there is telehealth available at New Mexico Telehealth.
Payment Options: Many PP Health Centers accept insurance (check the various sites for insurance accepted) and offer financial help, check on the websites and with the center for details.
The service is intended for adults 18+, but the many 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.
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in New Mexico We no longer recommend VA Health Care as a safe space for LGBTQ people to get health care.
New York
Resources in or Near New York City
Mount Sinai has several resources for transgender individuals and these are listed below. The first resource is for children and adolescents and the second set of resources is for adults. All of the Mount Sinai resources have the same FB – The Mount Sinai Hospital and IG – @mountsinainyc.
Mount Sinai Resource 1: Adolescent Health Services (Website – LGBTQ Support/ Transgender Health Services)
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center offers all young people, regardless of sexual expression or gender identity, access to high quality, comprehensive medical and mental health care with sensitivity and compassion and in a confidential setting. Services include evaluation and prescriptions for hormone therapy, primary care, sexual health care including comprehensive STI evaluation and treatment, routine HIV testing and counseling and many other services.
Mount Sinai Resourc 2: (Websites – Gender Affirmation Services , Union Square Transgender Medicine and The Center for Transgender and Medicine and Surgery – CTMS).
All the sites listed in resource two are affiliated with The Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery (CTMS). CTMS resources take a team approach to caring for trans and gender non-conforming people. Sevices include hormone therapy, primary care, gender confirmation surgery, gynecology, and urology.
Paryment Options: In addition to accepting many insurance plans, Mount Sinai also has financial assistance programs.
Mount Sinai has several locations around New York city, call one of the resources above to find the resource closest to you.
Mount Sinai has services for children, adolescents (resource 1) and adults (resource set 2).
Columbia Doctors (Website – Columbia Gender Identity Program, FB – Columbia Doctors, IG – #columbiadoctors)
The Columbia Gender Identity program provides gender-confirming HRT, medication management and gender-confirming surgery. Columbia Doctors provides primarily behavioral and mental health, but partner with Columbia University Irving Medical Center to provide HRT and surgery and other medical services
Payment Options: not obvious, call the provider for options.
There are (5) locations in NYC along with telehealth.
The Columbia Gender Identity Program serves children, adolescents and adults. Call the provider for age limitations on services.
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (Website – Transgender Health, Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT), and Callen-Lorde HOTT medical mobile unit FB – Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, IG – @callenlorde)
Callen-Lorde has many services available in its Transgender Health program including hormone therapy, primary care, chest/breast health, pelvic wellness/PAP, STI/HIV/AIDS ccreenings, testing, prevention and treatment including PrEP and PEP. In addition to services for adults at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Callen-Lorde has two resources for youth only ages 13-24. The youth-only medical suite at Callen-Lordeis, the Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT), and the youth-only mobile unit, the Callen-Lorde HOTT medical mobile unit. Callen-Lorde has lots of other great stuff on their site, including a comic from illustrator Ketch Wehr to show how cis people can be allies to non-binary and trans people, pamphlets on safer binding and tucking, a guide to changing your voice, a list of surgeons who do gender confirmation surgery, a list of NYC-metro area list of community resources for transgender and non-binary people, and a pronouns matter video
Payment Options: Callen-Lorde provides all healthcare services regardless of ability to pay. For uninsured/underinsured patients, Callen-Lorde provides a sliding fee based on your income. Visit co-pays can range from $0 to $100
Callen-Lorde Community Health Care Centers are in mid-town Manhattan and the Bronx; use this link to find locations.
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center has a services for youth 13-24 at a youth only suite Health Outreadt to Teens HOTT at Callen-Lorde and also a for youth only HOTT mobile unit. Adult services are available at the Callen-Lorde Community Centers at locations above.
NYC Health and Hospitals (Websites – LGBTQ Health Care Services and Five Pride Centers Dedicated to LGBTQ Health Care The Pride Health Center at Bellevue The Pride Health Center, Gotham Health at Gouverneur, The Pride Health Center at Gotham Health at Judson, The Pride Health Center at Metropolitan, The Pride Health Center at Woodhull, as well as the LGBTQ Health Services Brochure, FB – NYC Health and Hospitals, IG – @NYCHealthCenter)
NYC Health and Hospitals has many resources for the transgender and non-binary person including the five Pride Health Care Centers dedicated to the health of LGBTQ people listed above. Services include hormone therapy (at select locations), primary care, gynecological care, HIV screenings and treatment confidential sexual health care inlcuding for adolescents. NYC Health also offers this great Brochure on Health Tips for Trans Men and People of Trans Masculine Experience.
Payment Options: Insurance plans are accepted including a low/no cost insurance plan, Metro Plus for children, adults and families, offered by NYC. NYC Health and Hospitals offers financial counseling and assistance, click the following link for information on Metro Plus, isurance coverage accepted and finanacial help.
NYC Health has many locations and these are listed in the LGBTQ Health Services Brochure.
Age limitations for services may vary, contact the site for further information on age limitations on services.
NYU has several resources for Adults, Children & Adolescents, and Students including (1) NYU Langone Health, (2) Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone and and (3) NYU Student Health Care Services (Websites – (1) Transgender Surgery Services at NYU Langone, (2) Gender and Sexuality Services, and (3) Trans/ Non-Binary/ Gender Non-Conforming Health and Wellness FB – NYU Langone Health, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, and NYU Student Health Center, IG – @nyulangonehealth, @hassenfeldchildrenshospital, and @nyuniversity)
The Transgender Surgery Services site points to the all of the resources for gender confirmation surgery services, but also identifies resources at NYU Langone for hormone therapy, adolescent medicine, voice surgery and therapy, sexual health and other services. Surgery services include masculinization procedures – top surgery, metoidioplasty, phalloplasy, and body contouring and feminization procedures including – breast augmentation, facial feminization, orchiectomy, tracheal shave, and vaginoplasty.
The Gender and Sexuality Services at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital will evaluate children and adolescents for mental health concerns and develop a treatment plan, if required, for gender-affirming medical interventions, including puberty suppression, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgery.
NYU Student Health has the Trans/ Non-Binary/ Gender Non-Conforming Health and Wellness program. This program includes hormone therapy, gender affirming surgery primary care, testicular health, pelvic health, and voice modification
Payment Options: Insurance plans are accepted. NYU Student Health insurance covers gender confirmation surgery, hormone therapy and other services. Transgender Surgery Services works with the The Out Foundation which funds gender confirmation surgeries and other gender confirmation medical services.
NYU Lagone Health has a main campus in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan.
Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital has several locations where patients are seen. Call ahead to find out if the location you chose provides the services you need.
Trans Health and Wellness is available at NYU Student Health Center, main campus, check with the university for satellite locations and international locations.
Services at Hasssenfeld Children’s Hospital are for children and adolescents and The Trans/Non-Binary/ Gender Non-Conforming Health and Wellness Program at NYU Student Health is for NYU students, for age limits on all other services from NYU Langone check with the provider.
Northwell Health (Websites- Gerald . Friedman Transgender Health & Wellnness Program at Lenox Hospital and LGBTQIA+ Clinical Services and Transgender Care Center, FB – Northwell Health, IG – @northwellhealth)
The Transgender Health and Care Programs at Northwell Health offer hormone therapy, puberty blocking, primary care, HIV prevention and treatment including PrEP and STI screening. Fertility specialists are also available
Payment Options: Northwell Health accepts insurance plans, but check with your plan to make sure Northwell Health is in network for the services you receive, Financial Assistance is also available for those who qualify.
The Gerald Friedman Transgender Health & Wellness Program is in Manhattan and the Transgender Care Center is in Long Island.
Services are open to children, adolescents and adults.
Weill Cornell Medicine (Website – LGBTQ+ Community Healthcare Services, FB – Weill Cornell Medicine, IG– @weillcornel)
The LGBTQ+ Community Healthcare Services offers hormone therapy, primary care, voice therapy, HIV/STI testing, treatment and prevention, sexual health, including gynecology and prostate health.
Payment Options: none found, contact the provider for further information.
Weill Cornell and it’s partner NY Presbyterian appear to be primarily located in NYC, check with the provider for the exact location of services. site for location of services, payment options and age limitations for services.
Weill Cornell Medicine services pediatric, adolescent and adult patients, contact the provider for age limitations on services.
Amida Care (Website – Transgender Health, FB – Amida Care, IG – @amidacare)
Amida Care is a private, nonprofit community health plan that specializes in providing comprehensive health coverage and coordinated care to Medicaid members with chronic conditions, including HIV/AIDS and behavioral health disorders. Amida Care has a Transgender Health program that provide gender-affirming HRT and surgeries as well as primary care, STI/HIV testing, treatment and prevention including PrEP.
Payment Options: Amida Care accepts Medicaid.
Amida utilizes many providers, check with the provider for location.
Amida serves childern adolescents and adults, check with providers for age limitations on services.
Community Healthcare Network (CHN) (Website –LGBT Health, FB –Community Healthcare Network , IG – @chnnyc)
LGBT Health offers hormone therapy, primary care, HIV/STI testing and treatment including PEP and PrEP, voice therapy referrals for gender-affirming surgeries.
Payment Options: CHN accepts many commercial insurance plans, Medicaid, FHP, and CHP. They also have a sliding payment scale for the uninsured. Some services are offered free of charge, but check with the provider for payment options. For more information on all options, click the cost of care link.
CHN locations
Age limitations are not obvious, check with the provider for age limits on services.
Matt Pabis, M.D., Family Medicine Physician (Website – Transgender Medicine Specialist, FB – none found, IG – none found)
Dr. Pabis and his dedicated medical team offer comprehensive care for transgender patients, including HRT, post-surgical care, primary care, health risk assessments, and routine screenings, sexual health, infectious disease testing, treatment and prevention, including hepatitis C and HIV prevention with PrEP, birth control and family medicine. You can expect a caring, welcoming environment for your specific health needs.
Payment Options: no information found for payment options besides self-pay, call Dr. Pabis for information on payment options.
Dr. Pabis is located in Manhattan.
There are no stated age limits, but Dr. Pabis also provides family medicine so Call Dr. Pabis’ practice for age limits on particular services.
True U 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.
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 New York 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
Age limitations on services are not available. Plume offers puberty blockers, so it is assumed they serve adolescents and adults. Call Plume to confirm age limitations on services.
Planned Parenthood of New York City is part of (1) organization, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) with 5 Health Centers in NYC and 23 around the state of New York (Website – PPGNY , FB – Planned Parenthood of Greater New York IG – #plannedparenthoodofgreaternewyork)
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York offers Transgender Services which includes gender-confirming HRT. Planned parenthood also has a wide range of many services available to all people including primary care, HIV, SIT testing, counseling, and treatment PEP and PrEP, contraception, and gynecological care including PAP smears. Click the link named services for information on all services offered.
The (5) Health Centers locations in NYC are in Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island. It is not clear whether the Staten Island Health Center offers HRT, but all the other NYC Health Centers state this service on their website. PPGNY also offers telehealth which can be booked with any Health Center in PPGNY, click the locations link for more information on 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 the many 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.
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in New York City We no longer recommend VA Health Care as a safe space for LGBTQ people to get health care.
New York State (Outside NYC)
True U 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.
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 New York 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
Age limitations on services are not available. Plume offers puberty blockers, so it is assumed they serve adolescents and adults. Call Plume to confirm age limitations on services.
Planned Parenthood of New York has of (5) organizations with (5) health Centers in NYC (see above) and (51) more health centers across New York state. The (5) organizations are Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY), Planned Parenthood, Hudson Peconic, Inc., (PPHP), Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Inc., (UHPP), Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Inc. (PPCWNY) and Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York, Inc. (PPNCNY) with x health care centers (Websites – PPGNY, PPHP, UHPP, PPCWNY and PPNCNY, FB – Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York and Planned Parenthood of North Country New York, IG – #plannedparenthoodofgreaternewyork, @upperhudsonplannedparenthood and #plannedparenthoodnorthcountrynewyork)
Many of the Planned Parenthood Health Centers offer gender-confirmation HRT and all of the centers offer important services to the LGBTQ+ community such as like , primary care, HIV, SIT testing, counseling, and treatment PEP and PrEP, contraception,and sexual health such as gynecological care including PAP smears. Be sure to search for LGBTQ Services at the Planned Parenthood website for the Planned Parenthood location nearest to you.
PPGNY will help with health insurance enrollment and even if you don’t have insurance you can go to PPGY where financial counselors will help you get insurance and/or financial assistance
PPGNY operates 28 health center locations and 2 mobile health centers Project Street Beat – NYC and Plan Van – Nassau Couty.
Planned Parenthood Greater New York (PPGNY) has (5) health centers in NYC (see above) and (23) health centers plus (2) mobile health center vans around the rest of New York State offering Transgender/ Nonbinary HRT and Telehealth. Many of the PPGNY locations provide gender-affirming HRT, check the individual sites for all services including sexual health and prevention & treatment of STI’s and HIV. PPGNY location in New are in Amsterdam, Clifton, Cobleskill, Corning*, Elmira*, Glen Cove, Goshen, Hempstead, Hornell*, Ithaca*, Johnstown, Kingston, Massapequa, Monticello, Newburgh, Oneida, Poughkeepsie, Queensbury, Rome, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Utica, Watkins Glen (which is temporarily closed) and (2) mobile health centers Project Street Beat – NYC and Plan Van – Nassau County.
*PPGNY has a program called Out for Health, A Project of Planned Parenthood Southern Fingers Lake that offers Trans and Non-Binary Care at Corning, Elmira, Hornell and Ithaca. Even though (3) of these PPGNY sites do not list HRT on their websites, this service is apparently offered – click the link for more info.
Planned Parenthood, Hudson Peconic, Inc – PPHP has (10) Health Centers and all offer Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy and Telehealth Services. Also PP Hudson Peconic offers HRT to 17 year olds with parental permission. The health centers are located in Huntington, Mt. Vernon, Patchogue, New Rochelle, Riverhead, Smithtown, Spring Valley, West Islip, White Plains and Yonkers. All sites offer sexual/reproductive health, women’s and men’s health and many offer referrals for LGBTQ patients
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Inc. – UHPP has (3) Health Centers. As part of their Gender Affirming Healthcare program all UHPP sites offer gender-affirming hormone therapy and pubertal suppression for adolescents together with sexual/ reproductive health and men’s and women’s health. UHPP also offers Telehealth. UHPP health centers are located in Albany, Troy and Hudson
Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Inc. – PPCWNY has (8) Health Centers and (1) Mobile Unit. PPCWNY has Gender Affirming Hormone Care at (2) sites which are highlighted below and Telehealth. PPCWNY locations are in Canandaigua, Syracuse, and all sites offer sexual/ reproductive health, women’s and men’s health and referrals for LGBTQ patients include locations in Batavia, Buffalo, Niagra Falls, North Tonawanda, Rochester and West Seneca.
Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York, Inc. – PPNCNY has (7) Health Centers and offers, Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy at the majority of PPNCNY health centers as well as Telehealth. The locations that offer HRT are in Canton Center, Canton, Lowville, Plattsburg, Saranac Lake and Watertown. Sexual/ reproductive health, men’s and women’s health and service referrals are available at these sites and at additional sites in Malone and Ogdensburg.
If you are in New York State, but not near centers that are highlighted as offering HRT, try calling one of the centers that does have HRT to see if they offer HRT by telehealth, as telehealth is becoming much more common since the Covid 19 outbreat.
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 the many 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.
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in New York State We no longer recommend VA Health Care as a safe space for LGBTQ people to receive health 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.