scientific program • symposia - American Society for Reproductive ...

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM • INTERACTIVE SESSIONS
Monday, October 17, 2011 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
Interactive Session
MANDATED STATE COVERAGE FOR FERTILITY:
DOES IT PROVIDE EQUAL UTILIZATION?
Presented by the Health Disparities Special Interest Group
Gloria A. Richard-Davis, M.D. (Chair)
Meharry Medical College
David B. Seifer, M.D.
Genesis Fertility & Reproductive Medicine
G. Wright Bates, M.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Needs Assessment and Description
Infertility affects approximately 10% of all couples. Only 24%
of employers provide any insurance coverage for fertility
services. This coverage varies tremendously from evaluation
only to treatment inclusive of assisted reproductive
technology (ART). Most however, exclude any ART and
still use justifications such as experimental treatment for
exclusion. There are a few states (approximately 14) that
mandate coverage for fertility treatments. Additionally,
there are multiple variations in what is mandated in the
state initiatives or laws. For many patients, fertility service not
covered by insurance means it is an unaffordable option.
What are the determinants of access to fertility services?
Whether fertility services are covered or not potentially
impacts access and outcomes for women across ethnic
and socioeconomic strata. This interactive session will
discuss the pros and cons of mandated coverage for fertility
services.
Room 224 G/H
86
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able
to:
1. Describe the impact of race/ethnicity upon success rates
of ART.
2. Describe the factors that could influence a woman’s
choice of seeking ART for treatment of infertility.
3. Discuss the challenges of achieving equal utilization of
ART services for women of different races/ethnicities living
in insurance-mandated states.
ACGME COMPETENCY
Systems-based Practice
TEST QUESTION:
Black women in the US have been experiencing:
A. An increase in the prevalence in infertility at the same
time infertility is increasing among white women.
B. A decrease in the prevalence in infertility at the same
time infertility is decreasing among white women.
C. An increase in the prevalence in infertility at the same
time infertility is decreasing among white women.
D. A decrease in the prevalence in infertility at the same
time infertility is increasing among white women.