Billings Clinic named High Performer in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2024 Healthcare Equality Index

Billings Clinic is one of just 462 health care organizations nationwide to receive the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation.

BILLINGS, MT — Billings Clinic is pleased to announce that it has received an evaluation of 85 out of 100 and the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 16th anniversary edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). The HEI is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of health care facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. A record 1,065 health care facilities actively participated in the 2024 HEI survey and 462 of those, including Billings Clinic, earned an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation.

“Having been involved with the HEI since 2017, Billings Clinic is proud of the changes we have been able to make to show our patients, our staff, and our community that we are committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion in health care,” said Sara Agostinelli, Billings Clinic Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. “We care for all patients across our community and seek to meet each person where they are at, and as who they are. We know this work does not end with this designation and remain committed to our LGBTQ+ community and providing exceptional care and an inclusive and welcoming work environment for our staff members.”

Billings Clinic is one of just three health care organizations in Montana and Wyoming participating in the 2024 HEI. As an organization, it has participated in the HEI since 2017 and has worked consistently to meet its standards, continue to enhance policies and practices, and improve upon meeting the needs of LGBTQ+ patients, guests and employees. This involves a broad scope, including internal policies, staff education, public involvement and connections, record keeping and care services.

This work is one component of a broader and continuous organization-wide commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for patients, their families and employees.

“LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are looking for health care providers to offer and champion fully inclusive services,” said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “The Healthcare Equality Index is helping people find facilities where welcoming policies and practices are the standard.”

The HEI evaluates and scores health care facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

• Foundational Policies and Training in LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care
• LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support
• Employee Benefits and Policies
• Patient and Community Engagement

In the 2024 report, an impressive 384 facilities earned HRC’s “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader'' designation, receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100. Another 462 facilities, including Billings Clinic earned the “High Performer” designation with scores between 80 to 95 points and at least partial credit in each section. With 79% of participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, health care facilities are demonstrating concretely that they are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ+ care. Key highlights from the 2024 report include:

• Targeted Health Disparities Reduction Plans: Encouragingly, 71% have an official plan for reducing health disparities that specifically includes LGBTQ+ patients in addition to race, ethnicity, and linguistic concerns.
• Work to Be Done: Only 27% have an externally promoted specific program to provide patient navigation or advocacy services to transgender patients.
• Bias Elimination and Welcoming Interactions: Just over half (53%) have a policy or policies that specifically outline procedures and practices aimed at eliminating bias and insensitivity, and ensuring appropriate, welcoming interactions with transgender patients.
• EHR SOGI Data: Major increases are seen in the number of health care facilities collecting sexual orientation and gender identity-related data in their Electronic Health Records systems. Seven of the eight relevant data points had double-digit increases.
• Pronouns in Electronic Health Records: The ability to collect and display a patient’s pronouns rose from 44% to 74%. This is an important tool to help prevent misgendering a patient.
• FMLA-Equivalent Benefits: 38% offer FMLA-equivalent benefits that allow employees to take family and medical leave to care for same-sex partners as well as the children of a same-sex partner, regardless of biological or adoptive status – this is up from 34% in 2022.
• Comprehensive Benefits for Domestic Partners: 41% provide medical and comprehensive health benefits to domestic partners of benefits-eligible employees up from 34% in 2022. This is the first increase in this measure since the 2015 Obergefell decision on same-sex marriage.
• Employee Resource Groups: 72% have an officially recognized LGBTQ+ employee resource group.
• Community Engagement and Support: 92% took part in or supported one or more LGBTQ+ related events or initiatives in their service area.

In addition to active survey participants, the HRC Foundation proactively researched the key policies for LGBTQ+ inclusion at over 1,300 non-participating hospitals. These research hospitals were much less likely to have LGBTQ+ non-discrimination policies in place, which is a stark contrast to the near-perfect adoption by active participants. Among the researched hospitals in which the HRC was able to find or obtain enumerated patient non-discrimination policies, only 70% have policies that include both sexual orientation and gender identity compared to 99% of HEI participants.

About the Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

About Billings Clinic

Billings Clinic is Montana’s largest independent health system, serving Montana, Wyoming and the western Dakotas. A not-for-profit organization led by a physician CEO, Billings Clinic is governed by a board of community members and physicians. At its core, Billings Clinic is a physician-led, integrated multispecialty group practice with a 304-bed hospital and Level II trauma center. Billings Clinic has more than 4,700 employees, including nearly 600 physicians and advanced practitioners offering more than 80 specialties. Billings Clinic is the first Magnet-designated health care organization in Montana and a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. More information can be found at www.billingsclinic.com.