California Senate Passes Legislation to Require CME for Physicians Covering TGI Care

Recently, the California Senate passed Senate Bill 923, the TGI Inclusive Care Act, by a vote of 28-6. The legislation – the first of its kind in the nation – attempts to create a “more inclusive and culturally competent healthcare system” for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGI) people in California.

CME Requirements

Under the legislation, continuing medical education (CME) for physicians would need to include evidence-based cultural competent studies to help physicians provide inclusive care for TGI people.

Under existing law, the Medical Practice Act, physicians and surgeons are required to demonstrate satisfaction of continuing education requirements, including cultural and linguistic competency in the practice of medicine. This bill would expand cultural competency training to include, as appropriate, information and evidence-based cultural competency training pertinent to the treatment of, and provision of care to, individuals who identify as queer, questioning, asexual, or gender nonconforming, and the processes specific to those seeking gender-affirming care services. The bill would provide specific components, including health inequities within the TGI community, that would be suitable for evidence-based cultural competency training pursuant to these provisions.

Other Provisions

The legislation also requires that the Health and Human Services Agency issue enforceable quality standards for treating TGI patients. Additionally, health insurance companies will need to provide TGI cultural competency training for their employees and that they include, in their network directories, a list of providers who offer gender-affirming services.

Oversight agencies are also directed to track and monitor complaints related to TGI-inclusive care and publicly post those findings in their annual reports or their website.

Comments

Senator Scott Wiener, who introduced the legislation, stated that it is important to ensure “that trans people are treated with respect and dignity by health care providers. While many health care professionals provide excellent care to trans people, more work remains. Improved training, clear standards, and improved network directories will result in better care for TGI people.”

Next Steps

SB 923 is co-authored by Assemblymembers Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), Evan Low (D-San Jose), Alex Lee (D-Fremont), and Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens).

The legislation now heads to the California Assembly for policy committee hearings.