29 Jun Healthcare Resources and HRT for the Transgender Community in Tenessee
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 important to make sure we take care of our own health. We are updating our #WellnessWednesday posts to document sites that are still compassionately offering Transhealth services. We are doing this work by states in alphabetical order.
This week we are covering resources in Tennessee. Many resources across the country are, to their credit, creating comfortable places for transitional medicine as well as routine proactive health maintenance and 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 covering resources in Tenessee.
Tennessee
In Tennessee, access to gender-affirming care for minors is severely restricted due to a state law and a subsequent Supreme Court ruling that upheld it. This law prohibits providers from offering puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery to minors for the purpose of gender transition, regardless of parental consent or medical recommendation. While the law prohibits these treatments for minors, it does not apply to adults, and some clinics may offer services for adults.
Choices: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health (Website –LGBTQ+ Health Services, FB – Choices Center for Reproductive Health , IG – @yourchoicesclinics)
Choices provides gender-affirming HRT and additional care including STI/ HIV testing, PrEP and various services promoting sexual health like Pap smears and HPV vaccines. The site includes a link to Safer Sex for Trans Bodies a comprehensive sexual health guide for transgender, gender expansive people and their partners.
Payment Options: Choices accepts many types of insurances as well money orders and credit/debit. NO CASH. Discount fees are available if the bill is paid at the time of services The are no other obvious financial assistance options, click fees for more information.
There are two health centers in Memphis.
Services are for patients 18+.
Connectus Healthcare (Websites – ConnectusHealth, FB – Connectus Healthcare, IG – @connectushealthcare).
Connectus Health has offered transgender health and gender-affirming HRT, in the past, but are not listing it on their website, so call for an update on those services. Connectus Health also provides primary care, reproductive health and support while seeking gender-confirmation surgery.
Transgender-specific involvement: Connectus Health has participated in events such as those hosted by Nashville Pride to highlight their commitment to serving the LGBTQ+ community. They provide quality clinical care to transgender and gender non-conforming patients.
Most insurance is accepted and there is financial assistance including a sliding pay scale.
There are a few locations in Nashville and also a mobile unit.
Gender-affirming services are limited to adults by law.
Nashville Cares and Care 360 Community Clinic (Websites – Gender-Affirming Healthcare, FB – NashCARES, IG – @nashvillecares).
Nashville Cares and Care 360 offer gender-affirming HRT as well as provides primary care, reproductive health, sexual health including testing, treating and prevention of STI/ HIV testing, PrEP.
Transgender-specific involvement: Connectus Health has participated in events such as those hosted by Nashville Pride to highlight their commitment to serving the LGBTQ+ community. They provide quality clinical care to transgender and gender non-conforming patients.
Most insurance is accepted and there is financial assistance including a sliding pay scale.
There are two locations in Nashville and one in Springfield.
Services are for adults 18 and older.
Queer Medicine (QMed) (Website – Accessible Care via Telemedicine, FB – QMed , IG – @queer.medicine).
QMed offers hormone therapy, to Tennessee by telemedicine.
Payment Options: QMed has a transparent list of competitive fees see plans and costs, but no obvious information about insurance accepted or financial assistance.
QMed provides HRT to Tennessee by telemedicine. and many other places in the nation.
Age limits for services are not obvious, these services appear to be oriented to adults, call with any quesitons on age limitations.
Vanderbilt Health (Website – Vanderbilt Fertility Clinic and Pediatric Transgender Clinic,
The longstanding Clinic for Transgender Health, a long standing program that contributed to Vanderbilt Health being honored for inclusive health care was eliminated without notice to the community or patients. VUMC caved to financial and other pressures in the era of the Trump Admin. Vanderbilt was also forced to close down services for pediatric patients due to the changes in Tennessee state law. One program remains on the Vanderbilt Health website that points to a health care provider giving transgender health care, Vanderbilt Fertility Clinic in Franklin.
Payment Options: call the provider for details
Vanderbilt fertility clinic is located in Franklin
Services at Vanderbilt Fertility Clinic are for adults. Call the providers for age cut-offs.
The University of Tennessee, Student Health (Websites – UT Student Health FB – University of Tennessee, Knoxville , IG – @utsystem).
The Student Health Center used to offer gender-affirming HRT. This is no longer listed as a service, but you may be able to get referrals. Or instead choose a university that supports your needs.
Planned Parenthood of Tennessee is part of (1) organization Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi (PPTNM) and has (4) Health Centers (Website – PPTNM , FB – Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, IG – #plannedparenthoodoftennesseeandnorthmississippi)
PPTNM has (4) of the health centers in Tennessee. Gender-affirming HRT is available onsite at all (4) sites Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis and Midtown of Memphis and to the whole state of Tennessee by telehealth through the Nashville Health Center. The health centers also offer a wide range of important services available to all people including primary care, HIV, SIT testing, counseling, and treatment PEP and PrEP, contraception and gynecological care including PAP smears. For services at each of PP organizations, click the services links in the above paragraphs.
Payment Options: Many PP Health Centers accept insurance and offer financial help, check on the websites and with the center for details.
PPTNM serves teens and adults. HRT is provided to adults 18+, but the many 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 about HRT and with any quesitons on age limitations for services.
VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in Tennessee We no longer recommend VA Healthcare or Clinics as safe spaces for LGBTQ persons.
Two Online Resource Guides from the Campaign for Southern Equality and the Harriet Hancock LGBTQ Center (Websites – Trans in the South Resource Guide 2019, Campaign for Southern Equality and Transgender Support Resource Guide , Harriet Hancock Center, FB – Southern Equality, IG – @southernequality and @harriethancockcenter
Check with individual providers in the resources guides for payment options, locations and age limitations for services.
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.