At Tahoe Forest Health District (TFHD), we are committed to health equity and compliance with federal and state regulations regarding the collection and use of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data.

Regulatory Compliance & Commitment to Equity

TFHD aligns with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines to expand and standardize data collection on race, ethnicity, preferred language, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and other health-related social factors. This commitment is reflected in our compliance with state and federal mandates, including:

  • Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 239B.026 – Mandates the collection and confidential reporting of SOGI data in forms that also request race/ethnicity information.
  • California Assembly Bill 1204 – Requires annual hospital equity reports submitted to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Reports must include patient access, quality, and outcome measures by demographic factors, with non-compliance penalties up to $5,000.
  • California Assembly Bill 3161 – Mandates health facilities to analyze patient safety events by demographic factors and submit patient safety plans biannually starting January 1, 2026, with potential fines for non-compliance.

Implementation at TFHD

To comply with these regulations and ensure accurate SOGI data collection, TFHD has implemented the following:

  • Use of MyChart – Patients can provide and update their SOGI information via MyChart, with educational resources available.
  • Data Collection at Registration – Patient Registration staff will continue collecting legal sex information, while RNs will complete SOGI data during admissions.
  • Staff Training – Clinical and registration staff are trained in communicating about sensitive information with gender-expansive patients.

What This Means for Patients

Beginning April 14, 2025, patients registered and admitted at Tahoe Forest Hospital and Incline Village Community Hospital will be asked about sexual orientation, gender identity, and preferred pronouns at registration.

  • Answering these questions is completely voluntary, and patients can choose to decline.
  • Responses will be kept confidential in compliance with privacy laws and will only be used to provide respectful and personalized care.

Our goal is to create a welcoming and affirming healthcare environment for all patients.

For more information about TFHD’s commitment to equity and compliance with SOGI regulations, please feel free to contact our Quality and Regulations Department at (530) 582-3541 or [email protected].