11 May Healthcare Resources and HRT for the Transgender Community in North Carolina and North Dakota
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. This week we are summarizing the legal picture and health care resources for the states of North Carolina and North Dakota. 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.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s 2023 ban on gender-affirming care for minors under 18 (HB 808) prohibits puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for those under 18, with limited exceptions for those already in treatment that started Aug 1, 2023. . This legislation has faced significant opposition and is the subject of ongoing legal challenges, including a recent federal appeals court ruling that found the state’s previous exclusion of gender-affirming care from its employee health plan was discriminatory. Resources exist to help connect trans individuals and their families with legal aid and support networks to navigate these restrictions and the complexities of access to care. The Campaing for Southern Equality (CSE) provides help to transgender individuals and their families, see Resources for Family of Trans Youth in Northern Carolina
ACG Health Mosaic Comprehensive Care (Websites – Mosaic Medical @ ACG Health, FB – ACG Health, IG – @mosaiccomprehensivecare)
Transgender Care offers gender-affirming hormone therapy, primary and preventative care, sexual health HIV and STI screening and treatment including PrEP and gynecologic and contraceptive care including chest/ breast health care, and IUD insertion and removal.
Payment Options: Check with the provider.
For Mosaic Medical locations and all other ACG Health and service locations click the link locations.
A broach spectrum of services are open to patients of all ages and genders, check with the provider for age limits on specific services.
Western North Carolina Community Health Service (Website – LGBTQ Health, FB –Western North Carolina Community Health Services , IG – @wncchs)
LGBTQ health does not appear to cover gender-affirming hormone therapy any more, check with the provider. WNCCHS does welcome LGBTQ clients and provide primary care, HIV and STI teating and treatment and referrals to specialists.
WNCCHS accepts insurance, medicaid/medicare and has a sliding scale for the uninsured or those in need. Click the Insurance link for more information.
Trans Health is located in Asheville.
Hormone therapy is for 18+, there is a monthly teen clinci where teens presumably get access to other services.
The Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group (Website – Charlotte Trans Health, FB – The Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group, IG– @charlottetranshealth)
An interdisciplinary group of licensed healthcare providers that offer a range of general and transition related medical and wellness services to transgender/ non-binary children, adolescents and adults.
Payment Options: Check with individual providers for payment options.
Providers are in the Charlotte area, check with individual providers for locations.
Check with individual providers for age limits on specific services.
LGBTQ Center (Website –Transgender Health Program, FB –UNC Transgender Health Program, IG – @unctrangenderhealthprogram)
The UNC Transgender Health Program was established this year with the primary purpose of assisting patients who need gender-affirming care navigate a complex healthcare system and connect to the services they need. The Transgender Health Program acts as a primary point of contact for trans patients and can provide referrals for medical, surgical, and mental health services with vetted, gender-affirming providers. THP accepts most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. This program is separate from Campus Health but is available to students. To reach the Transgender Health Program, call 984-215-4610 or email transhealth@unchealth.unc.edu.
Payment Options: THP accepts most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Transgender Health is located on the UNC campus @ Chapel Hill.
Age limitations are not obvious, but appear to be for adults, check with the provider for age limits.
UNC Health Care Children’s (UNCHC)
UNC Health can provide individualized care to transgender patients but is subject to North Carolina’s law, HB808, which prohibits initiating gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers or hormone therapy, for individuals under 18. While UNC Health’s policies on referrals remain unchanged, the new children’s hospital aims to provide more gender-affirming treatment environments, although limitations persist
Payment Options: contact the provider
Duke Health (Website – Duke Child and Adolescent Gender Care, FB – Duke Health, IG – @dukehealth)
Duke Child and Adolescent Gender Care has the following statement about services on their website “We provide treatment, support, education and counseling to transgender youth who are exploring their gender identity and gender expression, as well as their families.”. This clinic does not give specifics about services, but it does have both an endocrinologist and a urologist as part of the clinic so they may provide hormone therapy.
Payment Options: This hospital-based clinic is part of the Duke Health Hospital system and so some insurance companies may bill services as co-insurance with a deductible rather than as a copay typical for an office visit. Check with your insurance for expected costs. Click the link for insurance plans accepted by Duke Health. Click the link payment plans and financial assistance if you feel you need help paying your bill or are in need of financial assistance.
Duke Child and Adolescent Gender Care at Duke Children’s Health Center is located in Durham.
Duke Child and Adolescent Gender Care is for children and adolescents.
UNC School of Medicine, Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) (Website – Gender Affirming Care Clinic, and Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC), FB – Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC), IG – @unc_shac)
Gender Affirming Care Clinic offers prescriptions for hormones, primary care, letters of support for surgery and referrals for other services in SHAC and the community. The Gender Affirming Clinic aims to provide a safe space for trans/ non-binary students to get healthcare.
Payment Options: Visits to SHAC are free. SHAC is working to provide hormones free of charge in the future, but these are not currently free.
SHAC community health clinic is in Carrboro and the Dental Clinic is in Chapel Hill.
The Gender Affirming Care Clinic at SHAC is for transgender/ non-binary UNC students. Hormone presciptions can be given to students who are 18+, but referrals can be given to younger students.
Planned Parenthood of North Carolina is part of (1) organization, Planned Parenthood of the South Atlantic with (9) Health Centers. (Website – PPSouthAtlantic, FB – PPSouthAtlantic, IG – #plannedparenthoodsouthatlantic)
Planned Parenthood of the South Atlantic offers includes gender-confirming HRT in some Health Centers and via Telehealth. 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.
Almost all of the (9) Health Centers locations in North Carolina offer gender-affirming HRT and these are highlighted so you can click on that site – Asheville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. If you don’t live near any of these Health Centers, HRT is also offered to North Carolina via 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.
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 North Carolina 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
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in North Carolina we no longer recommend VA Health Care and Clinics as safe space for LGBTQ health care.
North Dakota
In North Dakota, HB1254 effectively bans gender-affirming medical care, such as hormone therapy and puberty-delaying treatments, for transgender youth under 18, with the law going into effect in April 2023. However, it contains a provision allowing youth who were receiving care before the law’s effective date to continue accessing it in North Dakota. Families and youth in North Dakota can still pursue legal action to challenge the ban, and they can also seek care in other states where it is legal.
Affiliated Reproductive Health Clinics (ARHC) permanently closed.
Harbor Health Clinic (Website – Harbor Health Clinic, FB – Not Available, IG – #harborhealthclinic)
Sadly over the last year, the pandemic has forced a valued community resource, Harbor Health Clinic, to close its doors.
They have posted the following resources to help transgender individuals find other options for gender-confirming medicine and health care gender-affirming hormone therapy providers, affirming therapists and surgery resources. There are additional helpful resources posted on the website.
Planned Parenthood of North Dakota is part of one organization Planned Parenthood of the North Central States (PPNCS) (Webite – PPNCS, FB – Planned Parenthood North Central States, IG – @ppnorthcentralstates)
There is no Planned Parenthood clinic in North Dakota at this time. However, gender-affirming HRT is available in one Health Center near Fargo, ND, in Minnesota at Morehead. Gender-affirming HRT is also available via Telehealth. There is a PP clinic serving Fargo in Morehead, MN and there are other Planned Parenthood clinics in north central state at these locations in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
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.
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.
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 North Dakota 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
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in North Dakota we no longer recommend VA Health Care and Clinics as safe spaces for LGBTQ 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.