Adapting Healthcare Quality Measures to Transgender Individuals

LGBT Health. 2017 Aug;4(4):248-251. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2017.0009. Epub 2017 Jun 20.

Abstract

The healthcare system's rapid shift toward value-based payment poses unique quality measurement challenges and new foci for researchers and policy makers. Quality measures that use sex-specific criteria may inappropriately include or exclude transgender individuals. More large-scale studies must be conducted to incorporate transgender individuals into measures that use sex-specific criteria, and "measure stewards" should consider the existing clinical guidelines and recommendations regarding transgender individuals when developing measures. Systems designed only for cisgender individuals will exacerbate existing transgender healthcare disparities unless they are revamped and flexible to transgender individuals' needs.

Keywords: administrative data or large data sets; gender identity; model programs; public policy and advocacy; transgender.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care / methods*
  • Quality of Health Care*
  • Transgender Persons*
  • Transsexualism / therapy
  • Value-Based Health Insurance