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HOD Policy Highlights |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (CHICAGO) — In an effort to improve and equalize patient care, members of the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) House of Delegates voted today during its annual business meeting in Chicago to support provisions that transgender and gender-variant people receive necessary medical treatment without being subject to discrimination by insurance companies. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, gender identity disorder is characterized by a persistent discomfort with one’s assigned sex. If left untreated, the disorder can result in severe psychological distress, depression or even suicide. “People with gender identity disorder are sometimes discriminated against by insurance companies that do not cover treatment for this diagnosis,” says Geraldine T. O’Shea, DO, a board-certified osteopathic internal medicine physician and chair of the AOA’s Bureau on Scientific Affairs and Public Health, which submitted the policy for consideration by the House of Delegates. “Adopting this policy sends a clear message that the AOA opposes the denial of medical benefits for these patients.” The AOA’s House of Delegates, comprised of more than 500 delegates representing osteopathic state medical associations, specialty societies, interns, residents and students from throughout the country, meets annually in July to set organizational policies and elect new officers. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 70,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical colleges; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org. # # # Mike Campea
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