By Sara Lee, Supervising Attorney, Health Unit
CLA SoCal is a proud member of the Health Consumer Alliance’s LGBTQIA+ Workgroup advocating for statewide issues and changes, especially for low-income Medi-Cal beneficiaries seeking gender affirming care. The advocates in the Health Unit regularly advise LGBTQIA+ consumers on their healthcare rights and have also educated consumers at Gender-Affirming Care Know-Your-Rights presentations.
We regularly assist transgender health consumers with accessing gender-affirming care including hormone therapy, hair electrolysis, facial feminization, and body contouring surgeries. We have represented transgender health consumers in health plan and California Department of Managed Care appeals, and at Medi-Cal state hearings for denied care and I am pleased to say we have won! Further, we have filed a transgender discrimination complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights.
CLA SoCal will continue to address barriers to accessing gender affirming care and outreach to LGBTQIA+ community on health consumer rights for denied or delayed care.
