This bill, known as the "Transgender Health Care Access Act," seeks to significantly improve access to evidence-based, lifesaving health care for transgender individuals across the United States. It defines gender-affirming care as health care designed to treat gender dysphoria, encompassing a wide range of medical, behavioral, and mental health services, while explicitly excluding conversion therapy. The legislation is founded on the strong medical consensus regarding the importance of this care, noting its positive impact on self-esteem and quality of life, and its role in decreasing depression and suicidality among transgender people.

To address existing gaps in healthcare professional education, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for developing and implementing model curricula and training projects focused on gender-affirming care and cultural competency. A demonstration program will also provide grants for training medical residents, fellows, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other health professionals in gender-affirming care, prioritizing entities with a history of serving transgender populations or those in underserved areas. These initiatives aim to build a more competent and accessible healthcare workforce.

Furthermore, the Act includes provisions to expand the capacity of community health centers to deliver gender-affirming care through grants or cooperative agreements. These funds can be used for staff training, updating electronic health records, and covering administrative costs. A dedicated section also focuses on establishing collaborative networks to train rural healthcare providers in gender-affirming care, recognizing the unique challenges in these areas.

Finally, the bill authorizes substantial appropriations for these programs from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with $10 million for curricula improvement, $15 million for the training demonstration program, $15 million for community health centers, and $5 million for rural provider training annually. It mandates that the Secretary submit a report to Congress within two years, detailing the progress, impact on health equity for transgender populations, and recommendations for future workforce development in gender-affirming care.