There is a growing awareness that mainstream health organizations cannot always adequately address the health needs of the LGBTQIA+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, allies).
This led to the December 2020 launch of Folx Health, which provides digital health services to this population through its diverse network of transgender and queer professional providers. “Folx” is a derivative of people used to specifically include traditionally marginalized groups. The Boston-based company provides end-to-end primary care, gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy and erectile dysfunction treatment programs, as well as holistic care navigation, in addition to providing patients with PrEP medications to prevent patients at risk of HIV infection.
Liana Douillet Guzmán will take over as CEO of Folx Health on Thursday, aiming to expand its services to all 50 states. Guzman responded by email to questions about the company and its goals. Exchanges have been edited for clarity.
MedCity News: What Makes Folx Different?
Guzman: Folx is the first and only LGBTQIA+ digitally native healthcare platform created by and for the trans and queer community, providing a new, accessible venue for expert, affirmative healthcare .
MedCity News: What has Folx accomplished?
Guzman: Since its inception, Folx has raised nearly $30 million in funding and launched services in 35 states. It launches an HRT Care Fund to provide inclusive care to 100 recipients each year, with 75% of grants earmarked for BIPOC [Black indigenous people of color] individuals, launched its first employer partnership and helped thousands of trans and queer people get the affirmative and reliable care they deserve.
MedCity News: Can you elaborate on the current unmet need for LGBTQIA+ and how Folx is addressing this?
Guzman: Queer and trans folx are not considered in the primary care model. With Folx, we are creating a transparent, reliable and safe experience for queer and trans folx to get the care they need. Folx’s team of clinicians are all gender-affirming and well-versed in the needs of the community, eliminating the awkward, tedious interactions queer people can often experience with heterosexual healthcare providers.
MedCity News: Can you share Folx’s target market and the cost of the Folx product?
Guzman: Folx Health was founded to build a healthcare platform that celebrates and supports the agency and autonomy of LGBTQIA+ people. Our memberships start at $89 per month and include specialist telehealth visits, unlimited messages with our care team, medication and supplies shipped directly to our members doorstep, automatic prescription refills and lab reminders, name changes and/or gender-tagged letters, and access to the wider Folx community. After a virtual appointment with our clinician, members can choose to have their Folx medication shipped directly to them, or picked up at a local pharmacy.
MedCity News: Which services are virtual versus in-person?
Guzman: With the exception of the lab (which we manage through our partnership with Quest Diagnostics), the Folx experience is virtual, meaning our members can get the care they need and deserve from the comfort of their home or on the go.
MedCity News: What’s Next for Folx?
Guzman: We hope to better meet our needs by expanding coverage to all 50 states, providing our members with more flexibility, continuing to invest in our primary care products, launching more employer partnerships, and expanding new products to meet our members. I believe we can be the preeminent healthcare platform for the LGBTQIA+ community and transform the healthcare industry in the process.
Image credit: bojanstory, Getty Images
