For transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary adults in Michigan seeking access to high-quality gender affirming medical care, navigating the healthcare system can feel overwhelming. Understanding Who Do I Contact About The Care Program In Michigan is often the first and most crucial step. Fortunately, the University of Michigan Health provides a comprehensive and supportive resource: the Comprehensive Gender Services Program (CGSP). This program acts as a central hub, designed to guide individuals through the process of obtaining the gender-affirming care they deserve.
The CGSP at University of Michigan Health is dedicated to offering the highest standard of medical care in a welcoming and affirming environment. Their multidisciplinary team recognizes that gender identity is a fundamental aspect of personal experience and is committed to providing equitable access to care for everyone, including those with agender, non-binary, and gender queer identities. Operating with the understanding that identifying with a gender different from one’s sex assigned at birth is a normal variation of human experience, CGSP aligns its practices with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care. This commitment ensures patients receive evidence-based and respectful care throughout their journey.
Understanding the Comprehensive Gender Services Program (CGSP) Team
The strength of the CGSP lies in its diverse and experienced team of medical and mental health professionals. This collaborative approach ensures that patients receive holistic care addressing both their physical and mental well-being. The medical providers within the CGSP represent a wide range of specialties, ensuring comprehensive medical support tailored to individual needs. These specialties include:
- Dermatology: Addressing skin-related concerns that may arise during gender transition.
- Endocrinology: Managing hormone therapy and its effects on the body.
- Family Medicine: Providing primary care services and coordinating overall health needs.
- OB/GYN: Offering gynecological and obstetric care for transgender men and gender affirming care for transgender women.
- Otolaryngology (ENT): Specializing in ear, nose, and throat care, including voice and communication considerations.
- Plastic Surgery: Performing gender affirming surgeries to align physical characteristics with gender identity.
- Speech and Language Pathology: Assisting with voice and communication modification to better align with gender identity.
- Urology: Providing urological care, including gender affirming surgeries.
Alt text: University of Michigan Health CGSP team of doctors and clinicians providing gender affirming care.
Complementing the medical team, CGSP also includes experienced mental health clinicians, specifically clinical social workers. These professionals offer crucial support for the emotional and psychological aspects of gender transition. Their expertise in working with diverse gender identities ensures that patients have access to mental health services that are both affirming and tailored to their unique experiences.
How CGSP Streamlines Your Gender Affirming Care Journey
CGSP functions as a centralized point of contact, simplifying the often complex process of accessing gender affirming care. Instead of navigating multiple departments and providers independently, patients can rely on CGSP as their primary resource. The program is designed to:
- Answer Your Questions: Whether you are just beginning to explore gender affirming care or have specific questions about services, CGSP is your first point of contact. They can provide information and guidance to help you understand your options.
- Track Your Progress: CGSP helps patients stay informed about where they are in the process of receiving care. This can be particularly helpful during longer processes like preparing for surgery.
- Provide Service Information: Need to know what specific gender affirming services University of Michigan Health offers? CGSP can provide detailed information packets and answer your questions about available treatments and procedures.
- Manage Support Letters: For many clinical services, particularly surgeries, letters of support from mental health professionals are required. CGSP accepts and reviews these letters, ensuring they meet the necessary criteria for insurance and surgical approvals.
Getting Started with CGSP: Your Initial Contact
Taking the first step towards gender affirming care with CGSP is straightforward. Who do you contact to begin? You can directly contact CGSP – no doctor’s referral is needed. Initiating the process involves a simple Service Inquiry Form (SIQ). Here’s how to get started:
- Contact CGSP: You can reach out to CGSP by phone or email (contact information provided below).
- Request a Service Inquiry Form (SIQ): Inform CGSP that you would like to begin the process and request a Service Inquiry Form.
- Complete and Submit the SIQ: This form allows CGSP to create a new patient chart for you or update an existing one if you are already in the University of Michigan Health system.
- Receive Information Packets: Based on the services you indicate you are interested in on the SIQ, CGSP will send you relevant information packets. These packets provide detailed information about specific procedures, processes, and requirements.
For individuals specifically interested in gender affirming surgeries, it’s important to note that one or two support letters from a licensed mental health provider are typically required, depending on insurance and the specific surgery. If you need assistance finding a qualified letter writer, CGSP can provide resources and guidance.
Navigating the Gender Affirming Surgery Process
While each surgical procedure has specific steps, the general process for gender affirming surgery at University of Michigan Health follows a similar pathway. CGSP provides support and guidance throughout this journey. For detailed information tailored to your specific needs, submitting a Service Inquiry Form is recommended. If you have already submitted an SIQ, contacting CGSP directly by phone is the best next step.
It’s important to be aware that wait times for consultations and surgery can vary depending on the specific service and provider availability. For estimated wait times, contacting CGSP directly is advised. Generally, the entire process from submitting your support letter to surgery can range from approximately 8 months to over a year, depending on the procedure. If you are pursuing multiple procedures, CGSP can help coordinate these processes to occur concurrently where possible.
Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps involved in the gender affirming surgery process:
- Submit a Service Inquiry Form (SIQ) to CGSP: After submitting the SIQ, expect to hear back from CGSP within 1 to 2 weeks via your preferred contact method. They will provide a list of next steps and information packets related to your requested services. If you choose email communication, ensure CGSP’s email address is not marked as spam. For mail communication, allow an additional 1 to 2 weeks for processing and delivery.
- Submit Your Letter(s) of Support: The information packet from CGSP will include a checklist outlining the required elements for your support letter(s) from a mental health provider. Depending on your insurance and the surgery, you may need one or two letters. Letters must be dated within one year of your anticipated surgery date and should list all services you are interested in. One letter can cover multiple requested consultations. If you need help finding a letter writer, contact CGSP. Allow a week after submitting your letter before contacting CGSP to confirm receipt, allowing time for processing.
- CGSP Review of Support Letter(s): CGSP thoroughly reviews your support letter(s) to ensure they contain all necessary information for insurance prior authorization and surgeon requirements. This internal review process can take up to a month, depending on CGSP’s capacity and the volume of letters they are processing. If revisions are needed, CGSP will directly contact your letter writer.
- Consultation Scheduling: Once your support letter is approved, CGSP will contact you to schedule a consultation appointment. Their preferred method of contact is through the University of Michigan Health patient portal, MyUofMHealth. You will receive a registration email for the portal during your intake process. Ensure portal notifications are enabled. If you need a new registration email or do not have portal access, contact CGSP. If portal access is not established, CGSP will contact you by phone using the number provided on your SIQ.
- Schedule Your Consultation: After being notified by CGSP about your letter approval, contact CGSP to schedule your consultation appointment. Wait times for consultations vary by doctor’s schedule. Following your consultation, the subsequent steps are managed by the surgical department, who will become your primary point of contact. CGSP can provide the contact information for the relevant surgical department if needed.
- Insurance Prior Authorization: Following your consultation, your support letter will be submitted to your insurance provider for prior authorization. The processing time for prior authorization varies depending on the insurance company.
- Surgery Scheduling: Once prior authorization is approved, a surgery scheduler from the surgical department will contact you to schedule your surgery. Surgery is typically scheduled within 3 to 6 months after your consultation.
Alt text: Contacting CGSP at University of Michigan Health for gender affirming care information.
Navigating Insurance Coverage
CGSP itself does not provide recommendations for specific insurance plans. For questions regarding your insurance coverage for gender affirming medical care, it is essential to contact your insurance company directly.
While University of Michigan Health accepts a wide range of insurance plans, acceptance does not guarantee coverage for all gender affirming services. To understand the specifics of your coverage, contact your insurer directly and inquire about gender affirming care coverage. Reviewing your Plan Documents and/or Summary of Benefits and Coverage can also provide valuable information.
Contacting CGSP Directly: Your Pathway to Gender Affirming Care
For anyone in Michigan seeking gender affirming care, knowing who do I contact about the care program in Michigan leads directly to the Comprehensive Gender Services Program at University of Michigan Health. CGSP is readily accessible to answer your questions, guide you through the process, and connect you with the expert care you need.
Comprehensive Gender Services Program
4250 Plymouth Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-998-2150
Fax: 734-998-2152
Email: [email protected]
By reaching out to CGSP, you are taking a significant step towards accessing comprehensive and compassionate gender affirming care at University of Michigan Health.
