Only 3 Healthcare Facilities Outside of Boston Receive LGBTQ HEI Designation

HEI ’19 Report: “LGBTQ Healthcare Leaders” pale in New England

Only 3 healthcare facilities outside of Boston receive a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality designation

A closer examination of the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) yielded startling results for New England’s LGBTQ community, according to data pulled from the index. For the 12th consecutive year, hospitals and healthcare facilities that participated in the report were scored on how many LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices they have established relating to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. “The first criteria consist of the foundational elements of LGBTQ patient-centered care,” the report read. “The three remaining criteria are Patient Services and Support, Employee Benefits and Policies, and Patient and Community Engagement. In addition, this year participants had to demonstrate that they offered transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits to their employees to receive a score of 100 points and earn HRC’s coveted ‘Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality’ designation.”

In Massachusetts, only three healthcare facilities outside of Boston received the designation as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality—Cooley Dickinson Hospital out of Northampton, the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester and Health Quarters based in Beverly. “I am deeply troubled that liberal Massachusetts does not have more hospitals and medical practices listed in the report as an ‘LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader,’” said Worcester resident Paul Stephano. “It raises many red flags for my husband and me and frankly, it does not make me feel comfortable seeking medical care in the way that others often take for granted. It’s unacceptable and gives me pause as I reflect on my own experiences in Massachusetts with how I’ve been treated at certain health care institutions. Very discouraging.”

Overall, the report recognizes a record number of high achieving facilities with exemplary LGBTQ inclusion. However, New England states, especially those that are not a part of a major metropolis lag behind others when compared side by side. In Massachusetts, 8 of 11 healthcare leaders are located in Boston, making access to competent LGBTQ healthcare absent in much of the rest of the commonwealth.

“While we're generally progressive in Mass., and committed to health equity, we've got to show it,” said Gabrielle Ross, Executive Director of Health Quarters in Beverly. “We encourage hospitals and facilities outside of Boston to demonstrate their commitment to equity and the inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees by benchmarking themselves against the HEI tool. We encourage payers to make some of the tool's benchmarks mandatory quality measures and link these to higher insurance reimbursement.” Ross said that Health Quarters holds itself accountable by five core values, with inclusion taking center stage.

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