General Surgery Coding Alert

Embracing and supporting all people in your practice is key.

Providing optimal care for transgender individuals goes beyond just coding and reimbursement. It’s about creating a safe and inclusive environment where patients and staff feel respected and supported. By staying informed on best practices for transgender healthcare and business practices, you can ensure that your office is a welcoming location for staff and patients alike.

Not only is it a good idea to “demonstrate that you and your department value care for all, but you might be losing out on revenue if you don’t” cautioned Trent Stechschulte, vice president and general counsel for I Am Boundless in Columbus, Ohio, in an AAPC Collaborative Compliance Conference presentation.

Here are four things your practice can do to ensure your trans patients and staff feel comfortable and cared for when they come to your facility.

Acknowledge Power, Importance of Language

People who identify as transgender have a gender identity that does not match the conventional expectations of the sex they were assigned at birth, Stechschulte explained.

Gender identity is not limited to male/female or masculine/ feminine; people may identify as nonbinary (not identifying with either the male or female gender), genderfluid, genderqueer, etc. Gender identity is wholly separate from sexual orientation and sexuality.

People who are intersex can have a wide range of congenital variations in internal and external biology, hormone levels, and chromosome composition, which may not fit into stereotypical conceptions of male and female bodies.

Trans people who seek medical care may be seeking gender affirmation surgery, hormone replacement, or facial feminization surgery. These services are all aspects of medical transition; social transition is also part of many transgender people’s lived experience and includes acknowledgement of their gender, like using the correct pronouns.

“If you’re unsure what pronouns a person uses, ask them. If you, like all of us, make mistakes, don’t sweat it. Quickly acknowledge the mistake, correct yourself, and move on. Don’t dwell, and don’t try to explain why you misgendered them,” Stechschulte explained.

Be Aware of Social Determinants of Health

Inequality has real effects on transgender people, including higher rates of unemployment and underemployment than other demographics, as well as housing insecurity and homelessness and other public health concerns. Many transgender people report experiencing harassment and/or discrimination in the workplace, leading to being passed over for promotions or being terminated because of their gender identity.

Additionally, 29 percent of transgender people live in poverty, versus 16 percent of non-transgender people, and 41 percent of transgender people have reported attempting suicide versus the national average of 5 percent, Stechschulte said.

Many of these situations can be considered social determinants of health (SDoH) and can be recorded and reported accordingly.

In terms of coverage of care, 22 percent have no health insurance coverage, and 29 percent of trans adults reported being denied services by a doctor or provider even with insurance; 32 percent of trans people of color do not have health insurance.

Although some payers cover gender affirming care, many set limits below the cost of the procedures or require lengthy prior authorization processes where some patients fall through the cracks, Stechschulte said. As many as 50 percent of transgender patients also feel like they need to educate their providers on the care they require.

These realities can lead to more self-reported negative experiences with providers.

Respect Gender Identity to Remain in Compliance

Gender mismatches on claims can create issues at both the provider and reimbursement levels, Stechschulte said.

“We found that 21 percent of transgender individuals have updated their identification forms with their providers,” Stechschulte said, which creates problems down the line, like claims being denied; but also, things like post-visit summaries with the wrong gender listed. For many trans people, misgendering can fall on a spectrum somewhere between aggravating and traumatizing.