Kennedy Krieger Institute

Sex Change Treatments Offered

Transgender Youth Clinic

In 2021, Kennedy Krieger announced that it would offer “services for transgender and gender non-binary youth” through its new “Transgender Youth Clinic.” According to a since-deleted page on Kennedy Krieger’s website, the Transgender Youth Clinic provided “comprehensive primary, specialty and mental health care to transgender and gender-nonconforming youth and young adults.”

Clinical psychologist Dr. Kathryn Van Eck led the the Psychiatric Mental Health Program at the Transgender Youth Clinic.

According to her official Biography, Van Eck still works at Kennedy Krieger and is now “a psychologist in the interdisciplinary Emerging Gender Clinic in Adolescent Medicine” at Johns Hopkins University.

Van Eck has encouraged health care professionals to affirm their patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity.

“’Individuals in the LGBTQ+ community represent about 10 to 15 percent of the population,’ says clinical psychologist Dr. Kathryn Van Eck. ‘They often don’t feel welcome in healthcare settings. Affirming their sexual orientation and gender identity is crucial for developing a strong patient-provider relationship.’”

Dr. Van Eck helped a group of rehabilitation therapists at Kennedy Krieger understand the importance of using a patient’s preferred pronouns.

“They really wanted to learn whatever was necessary to support their patient by being gender-affirming in their care. It made a big difference for the patient, and helped the patient connect with the staff,” she says. “I’ve also witnessed the critical role that using a patient’s pronouns can have in the patient’s parents’ acceptance of their child’s identity. When we model acceptance, using the right pronouns and apologizing when we get it wrong, it’s a big deal for parents who are also struggling with that process.”

Research Publications

Research available on the Kennedy Krieger Institute webpage

Identifying Medicare Beneficiaries Accessing Transgender-Related Care in the Era of ICD-10 (2019)

“Purpose: The study purpose was to describe trends in the size and demographics of the population of transgender Medicare beneficiaries identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Clinical Modification codes over time. We also assessed how the change from ICD, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes to ICD, 10th Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis codes in October 2015 has affected the ability to identify transgender beneficiaries within claims data.”

The Political Nature of Sex — Transgender in the History of Medicine (2021)

“On July 18, 2016, the final rule of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act regarding gender nondiscrimination went into effect. Advocates were relieved that the law now included protections against discrimination in health care ‘on the basis of sex’ that applied to transgender patients. These protections ensured that patients were treated in a manner consistent with their gender identity and, among other safe-guards, helped U.S. transgender patients access gender-affirming therapy. Four years later, under the Trump administration, HHS proposed revising this rule so that antidiscrimination provisions would apply only to ‘male or female and as determined by biology.’”

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection in Clinical Settings and in Electronic Health Records: A Key to Ending LGBT Health Disparities (2014)

“The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) 2011 report on the health of LGBT people pointed out that there are limited health data on these populations and that we need more research. It also described what we do know about LGBT health disparities, including lower rates of cervical cancer screening among lesbians, and mental health issues related to minority stress. Patient disclosure of LGBT identity enables provider–patient conversations about risk factors and can help us reduce and better understand disparities. It is essential to the success of Healthy People 2020’s goal of eliminating LGBT health disparities. This is why the IOM’s report recommended data collection in clinical settings and on electronic health records (EHRs). The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology rejected including sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) questions in meaningful use guidelines for EHRs in 2012 but are considering this issue again in 2013. There is overwhelming community support for the routine collection of SOGI data in clinical settings, as evidenced by comments jointly submitted by 145 leading LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations in January 2013. Gathering SOGI data in EHRs is supported by the 2011 IOM’s report on LGBT health, Healthy People 2020, the Affordable Care Act, and the Joint Commission. Data collection has long been central to the quality assurance process. Preventive health care from providers knowledgeable of their patients’ SOGI can lead to improved access, quality of care, and outcomes. Medical and nursing schools should expand their attention to LGBT health issues so that all clinicians can appropriately care for LGBT patients.”

Definitions

SEX CHANGE PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures or hormone/puberty blocker therapy.

TOTAL SURGERY PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures.

TOTAL HORMONE AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS PATIENTS: Total unique children who were prescribed puberty blockers or received gender-affirming hormone therapy.

TOTAL PRESCRIPTIONS WRITTEN: Total number of prescriptions written by a provider for puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones for children.

TOTAL SUBMITTED CHARGES: This is the initial amount a healthcare provider or pharmacy submits to the insurance company for a specific service, treatment, or prescription before the insurance company reviews and adjusts the payment. This value includes both the pharmacy-submitted cost of prescription drug claims and the line-item charges associated with medical procedures. Please note that this amount does not necessarily reflect the full cost of the procedure or prescription, as it is subject to adjustments and negotiations by the insurance company.