Andrew Shaughnessy, MPH, MA

HIV Transmission -> What We Know & Why States Are Getting It Wrong

By: Andrew Shaughnessy, Manager of Public Policy PROMO Missouri @AndrewShag AIDS.gov states that certain body fluids from an HIV-positive person can transmit HIV. The body fluids mentioned are: Blood, Semen (cum), Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), Recital fluids, Vaginal fluids, & Breast milk. Nowhere on this list does it mention saliva. Missouri laws, similar to several States, criminalizes behaviors that theContinue reading “HIV Transmission -> What We Know & Why States Are Getting It Wrong”

Missouri Case Study 12 – Sparking Interest from Rural Missouri Hospitals on LGBT Health

By: Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri @AndrewShag Upon concluding the review process for our Mid-Missouri and Southeast Missouri hospitals, health advocates were faced with the challenge of sparking interest among rural hospital officials on a review of their LGBT welcoming policies. Knowing the formula for sparking interest among urban hospitals, we knewContinue reading “Missouri Case Study 12 – Sparking Interest from Rural Missouri Hospitals on LGBT Health”

Missouri Case Study 11 – Reviewing LGBT Welcoming Policies in Rural Missouri Hospitals

By: Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri @AndrewShag At the beginning of February 2015, LGBT advocates in Missouri began reviewing our second list of hospitals on their LGBT welcoming policies. Having successfully accomplished several LGBT policy victories during our first round of outreach, we began to tackle a new beast — rural Missouri. Choosing 10 hospitalsContinue reading “Missouri Case Study 11 – Reviewing LGBT Welcoming Policies in Rural Missouri Hospitals”

Pressure Building to End Trans Exclusions under Obamacare

By: Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri @andrewshag Before the end of 2014, my organization (http://www.promoonline.org) urged Missourians to consider supporting a complaint that urged the United States Department of Health and Human Services to end exclusions under Obamacare for transgender folks. The complaint highlighted the individual story of a Missourian who experiencedContinue reading “Pressure Building to End Trans Exclusions under Obamacare”

Ending Exclusions Under Obamacare

By: Andrew Shaughnessy @andrewshag For the LGBT community health is a complicated matter. It is further complicated when health insurance companies deny or exclude certain forms of coverage that for some are basic health needs. For LGBT folks seeking gender-affirming health care coverage barriers exist at every turn — until the Affordable Care Act. OrContinue reading “Ending Exclusions Under Obamacare”

Welcoming Spaces for LGBT Folks Seeking Marketplace Insurance

Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri @andrewshag Gaining access to affordable health insurance has never been easier. Thanks to Healthcare.gov, LGBT folks are able to research and choose a marketplace plan that fits their individual or family needs and purchase the plan – all free from discrimination. This is an amazing step forwardContinue reading “Welcoming Spaces for LGBT Folks Seeking Marketplace Insurance”

Missouri Case Study 10 – Making LGBT Health Matter in Missouri Hospitals

Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri @andrewshag This year has proven to be a monumental year for LGBT Missourians. Those monumental steps have been the recognition of out-of-state marriages by the State of Missouri, and the leadership of nearly 47 Missouri hospitals, who have included 105 new LGBT welcoming policies to their coreContinue reading “Missouri Case Study 10 – Making LGBT Health Matter in Missouri Hospitals”

Missouri Case Study 9 – Selling A Policy Review to Hospital Officials

Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri @andrewshag Often times the hardest part of policy work is finding the right person to connect with who can make policy change happen. The tricky part is once you have finally identified your contact, what next? What do I say to get them engaged in a reviewContinue reading “Missouri Case Study 9 – Selling A Policy Review to Hospital Officials”

Missouri Case Study 8 – Maximizing Our Missouri Hospital Outreach

Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri Building off of the successful strategy in sparking Missouri hospitals into reviewing their LGBT welcoming policies, Missouri LGBT health advocates knew the potential we had to maximize our engagement with area hospitals. In this installment of the Missouri Case study, we will provide health advocates a fewContinue reading “Missouri Case Study 8 – Maximizing Our Missouri Hospital Outreach”

Missouri Case Study 7: Sparking Missouri Hospitals into Reviewing Their LGBT Welcoming Policies – Attempt #2

Andrew Shaughnessy Manager of Public Policy, PROMO Missouri @andrewshag The Missouri Case study is a joint project by PROMO Missouri and SAGE Metro St. Louis that highlights the policy work of the Missouri LGBT Health Policy project. In the last installment of the Missouri Case Study, we provided LGBT health advocates a roadmap of howContinue reading “Missouri Case Study 7: Sparking Missouri Hospitals into Reviewing Their LGBT Welcoming Policies – Attempt #2”