Access to Health Care Services for Transgender Patients

As a principal component of the core values of our association, ACHA fully embraces social justice, human dignity, and respect for all. Accordingly, the association has adopted the following organizational position:

As a society, we have made significant strides in removing barriers and improving health care and outcomes for our transgender and gender diverse population. Individuals are more empowered to disclose their medical concerns regarding their gender identity to their health care providers, and are doing so in larger numbers and at younger ages than they have in the past. Health care services should be made universal to all and should not discriminate in any way, whether this be on the basis of age; race; ethnicity; sex; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity; marital status; physical size or ability; religious, spiritual or cultural identity; neuro diversity; socioeconomic status; or veteran status. This is consistent with ACHA’s long-held values of cultural inclusion, respect, equality, and equity.

Therefore, ACHA opposes any policy, at any level, that restricts, limits, or discourages access to gender-related services for transgender and nonbinary youth and/or adults in our communities. This includes government requirements for data sharing that target gender-affirming care and diagnoses related to gender identity or gender dysphoria. The sharing of this confidential, personal medical data, even when de-identified, erodes trust in healthcare services and interferes with the patient-provider relationship to the detriment of the person’s physical and mental health. The health and well-being needs of all college students, including those who identify as transgender and nonbinary, must always be the highest priority of health care providers and campus health centers.

Originally adopted by the ACHA Executive Committee on behalf of the Board of Directors on February 25, 2020. Updated and reaffirmed by the ACHA Executive Committee on February 8, 2023.