CHA Earns Top Score in Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2026 Healthcare Equality Index
CHA is one of 323 healthcare providers nationwide earning the coveted "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation
Cambridge, Mass. – For the third consecutive time, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a community health system serving Cambridge, Somerville and Boston's metro-north communities, received an evaluation of 100 and the designation of "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader" in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's biennial Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), the nation's foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, and employees.
In 2026, 741 facilities actively participated in the survey and scoring process. Of those participants, 323 received the top score of 100, earning the "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation.
"We believe that everyone deserves access to safe, welcoming, and respectful healthcare services," said Michael James, CHA's chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. "We are also grateful that our dedication to providing high-quality health care to all members of the LGBTQ+ communities has been recognized by the HEI. This momentous recognition energizes us to do even more to ensure that all individuals receive the care they need and deserve, regardless of their background or identity."
"Health care access for the LGBTQ+ community in 2026 is a tale of both important progress and dangerous setbacks," said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "Even amid extraordinary pressure, many healthcare institutions are continuing to show up for LGBTQ+ patients and staff. Doctors want to take care of their patients in the best way they can. It's vital for all LGBTQ+ people to get the most accurate information we have on access to care across the country and we are proud of the ways in which the HEI helps the community understand this."
The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under five central pillars:
- Non-discrimination and Staff Training;
- LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support;
- Employee Benefits and Policies;
- Patient and Community Engagement; and,
- Responsible Citizenship
Some of CHA's advances in LGBTQ+ services include the creation of a comprehensive Gender Expansive Care Provider Toolkit and Skill Planning Worksheet by the Family Medicine and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) teams, ensuring primary care providers can deliver affirming care directly within patients' communities. To further remove barriers, CHA has piloted a program to distribute free gender-affirming supplies, alongside launching a dedicated Gender Expansive Care webpage and informational flyers to signal to the community that CHA is a safe, welcoming environment. Clinical offerings have also expanded with the introduction of life-changing Gender Expansive Voice Therapy. Additionally, to support its own workforce, CHA created a new LGBTQ+ Benefits Guide to help staff navigate inclusive health plans, and expanded its Family Formation Benefits to support employees however they choose to build their families.