Governor Hochul signs legislative package to address healthcare disparities in LGTBQ+ community
ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul signed recently a legislative package that will address health care disparities in the LGBTQ+ community.
By allowing runaway and homeless youth under 18 to make their own health care decisions and better equipping nurse and home health aides to work with LGBTQ+ populations, these new laws will expand protections in health care settings for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
"Every member of the LGBTQ+ community deserves health care that is available, accessible, and equitable," Governor Hochul said.
"It is critical that we create a more welcoming, inclusive, and affirming health care environment in order to improve health care outcomes for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly vulnerable youth. We will continue to press forward in the fight for LGBTQ+ equity in New York State."
According to the Governor’s Office, Legislation (A.9604/S.8937) authorizes runaway and homeless youth under 18 to consent to their medical, dental, health, and hospital care. LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in runaway and homeless youth populations, making up over 40 percent of this group, and transgender and gender nonconforming youth are particularly overrepresented in these groups.
Current law generally requires parental consent for minors to receive health care unless the minor is married or has a child, which can be a particularly huge barrier to accessing health care for minors who are homeless or who have run away from their homes.
This legislation will enable individuals who meet the definitions of runaway or homeless youth who receive services at an approved runaway and homeless youth crisis services program or transitional independent living support program to consent to their own health care.
Meanwhile, Legislation (A.1880A/S.2534A) requires home health aides and nurse's aides to receive training in working with patients of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Many patients identifying as LGBTQ+ report having difficulty finding health care where they feel included and accepted, and some individuals have reported being refused care because of their identity.
This new law will require training that specifically addresses the needs of patients of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, which will ensure that these patients receive culturally competent care.
Image via the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
