Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, a Facility of RWJBarnabas Health, and Garden State Equality will host New Jersey’s first Healthcare Conference for the LGBT Community on Friday, October 6 at Raritan Valley Country Club, 747 State Route 28, Bridgewater. The free conference is supported through a grant from Sanofi.

“We recognize that LGBT individuals often face challenges when accessing the health care services they need, which impacts their overall health,” said Tony Cava, president, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, which was the first hospital in the state to offer primary care services to the LGBT community. “Through this conference, we hope to make them more aware of laws regarding health care access, insurance coverage, and resources to help them take care of their health.”

Christina Ho, professor of law at Rutgers University, Newark Campus, will be the keynote speaker for the event and will discuss health care coverage for LGBT individuals under the Affordable Care Act. Ms. Ho was formerly the country director for the Clinton Foundation’s China program. She also worked on the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Clinton Administration as well as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s legislative staff. She joined Rutgers Law from the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center where she founded the China Health Law Initiative.

Other topics at the conference will include LGBT legal rights, intersectionality (the overlapping of different forms of discrimination), federal support services available to the LGBT community, and the unique concerns of LGBT seniors. Free blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings will also be available. In addition, representatives from LGBT-friendly health care providers will offer information and resources for attendees.

The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required by calling (888) MD-RWJUH.

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