Transgender Health Care Access Act
Sponsored By: Senator Edward Markey
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to gender‑affirming care by funding curricula, workforce training, and clinic capacity across medical education, community health centers, and rural provider networks.
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- Transgender people and families: Would increase availability of evidence-based gender-affirming services and supplies across medical, behavioral, surgical, psychiatric, diagnostic, preventive, rehabilitative, and supportive care, and explicitly excludes conversion therapy.
- Trainees and clinicians: Would fund development and national dissemination of model curricula and a training demonstration for residents, fellows, and a broad range of health professionals, with priority for programs experienced in transgender care. Demonstration grants must run at least five years.
- Community and rural providers: Would fund multi-year grants to HRSA-designated community health centers, tribal and urban Indian health facilities to expand direct care capacity. A separate rural training initiative would support collaborative networks that include critical access hospitals and federally qualified health centers.
- Researchers and policymakers: Directs the National Library of Medicine and NIH to aid dissemination and requires a report to Congress within two years on progress, health equity for transgender populations, and workforce recommendations.
*Authorizes federal funding of $10 million annually for curriculum development, $15 million annually for the training demonstration, $15 million annually for community health center capacity, and $5 million annually for rural training for FY2026–2030.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More gender-affirming care at community centers
If enacted, the Secretary would give grants through HRSA to expand community health centers' ability to provide gender-affirming care. Grants would last at least three years. Eligible recipients include teaching health centers, FQHCs, community mental health centers, rural clinics, IHS/Tribal/Urban Indian centers, and state or local rural health offices. Funds could pay for training, nondiscrimination training, community review boards, electronic health record updates, and admin or technical costs. The bill would authorize $15 million each year from 2026 through 2030.
Training grants for clinicians and trainees
If enacted, the Secretary would run a training demonstration program to teach residents, fellows, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers to provide gender-affirming care. Grants would support academic programs, clinical training, and faculty development. Grants must run not less than five years and would prioritize programs with prior experience or those serving areas with limited access. The bill would authorize $15 million each year from 2026 through 2030.
Definition of gender-affirming care
If enacted, the bill would define 'gender-affirming care' for the Act. The definition would cover medical, mental health, surgical, and supportive services and medicines for treating gender dysphoria. The definition would also say conversion therapy is excluded. This definition would guide what the bill's programs and grants can fund.
Model curricula for gender-affirming care
If enacted, the Secretary would award grants to health professions schools and training sites to develop and test model curricula on gender-affirming care. Curricula could include classroom work, clinical training, simulated patients, and community-based learning. Grant periods would be three years, subject to annual review and continuation. The bill would authorize $10 million each year from 2026 through 2030.
Rural networks for gender-affirming care
If enacted, the Secretary would fund collaborative networks to improve gender-affirming care in rural areas. Grants could help rural providers get extra training, provider-to-provider education, outreach, and patient education. Eligible entities include critical access hospitals, FQHCs, health professions schools, and training sites. The bill defines rural providers by U.S. Census non-urban areas. The bill would apportion $5 million each year from 2026 through 2030.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Edward Markey
MA • D
Cosponsors
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Elizabeth Warren
MA • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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