The Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA), an agency under the direction of the
department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on Wednesday pledged
$248,000 toward LGBT health centers.
Health centers provide primary health
care services to medically underserved communities and vulnerable
populations.
HRSA's award will go to the Fenway
Institute to create a National Training and Technical Assistance
Center to help community health centers improve the health of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations.
The Fenway Institute is the research
training and policy arm of Fenway Health, a community health center
that has served the gay community in Boston for more than 40 years.
“This award is an important step in
HHS' continuing effort to provide health care services to all people
recognizing that different groups of people may have distinctive
health care needs,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Fenway will develop curricula
specifically targeted to the gay community and provide consultation
to health center staff.
“Significant health disparities exist
for sexual and gender minorities,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K.
Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “This award will help to expand access for
the LGBT community to ensure that patients who need care can receive
it in a safe, welcoming and respectful environment.”
HHS on Wednesday also announced new
guidance to support enforcement of a memo signed last April by
President Barack Obama that bans hospitals from discriminating
against gay men and lesbians.