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<p>On August 1<sup>st</sup>, Republican Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire signed SB 279 into law. This bill, passed by the legislature in late June, will expand insurance coverage for fertility care by requiring employer-sponsored plans to cover the care as well as the storage of sperm, eggs and embryos for the length of the policy. Group plans will also be required to cover fertility preservation for patients who must undergoe medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility. The new law will take effect on January 1, 2020.</p>
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<p>On July 12<sup>th</sup>, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2020 by a vote of 220-197. The House version of the NDAA includes language calling for a Study on Infertility Among Members of the Armed Forces no later than 180 days after enactment. The findings will then be reported back to the members of the House Committee on Armed Services. The study will assess the number of members of the Armed Forces serving as of the date of the study who are diagnosed with common causes of infertility, such as: </p>
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<p>The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) today announced the appointment of Ricardo Azziz, MD, MPH, MBA to serve as the Society’s Chief Executive Officer beginning in January 2020.</p>
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<p>Today, ASRM joined with 30 other healthcare organizations, to file amicus briefs in three states, Washington, Oregon and California, all within the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit Court, in cases against HHS Secretary Alex Azar.</p>
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Today, ASRM joined with nine other healthcare organization, led by ACOG, to file an amicus brief with the US Supreme Court in the case June Medical Services LLC v. Rebekah Gee.<br /><br />In September 2018, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a challenge to a Louisiana law requiring that physicians providing abortion care have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinics. The Louisiana law they upheld is virtually identical to the Texas law found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Whole Women’s Health vs. Texas in 2016.
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<p><em>Washington, DC</em>-- The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act (HR 2803 and S 1461) just introduced in Congress will require all health plans offered on the group and individual markets to provide coverage for the treatment of infertility. The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, TRICARE, the VA and Medicaid are also included under the Act. In addition, the Act will require coverage for fertility preservation services for individuals who undergo a medically necessary procedure that may cause infertility, such as chemotherapy.</p>
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<p>This year’s turnout was the largest to date, with 233 patients and professionals- members of ASRM and RESOLVE from 29 states and the District of Columbia- in Washington, DC yesterday to meet with their Senators and Representatives to let them know how they can help Americans build their families via support for legislation important to the infertility community. Before heading out to the Hill, advocates heard first hand from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a long-time champion of legislation to help the infertility community, about her personal infertility and cancer journeys, and her call to action.</p>
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I am writing on behalf of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) to urge you to veto HB 314 which criminalizes physicians’ efforts to provide needed medical care to their patients.
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<p>The Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has updated two of its opinions: “Fertility treatment when the prognosis is very poor or futile” and “Interests, obligations, and rights in gamete and embryo donation.”</p>
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<p>French researchers have identified a promising protective effect of oral contraceptives on the bone health of young women with anorexia nervosa. Along with the gynecological disorders resulting from anorexia, patients experience bone loss with intense demineralization early in the course of the disease. This study shows for the first time that anorexia patients using oral contraceptives (OCs) have a higher areal bone mineral density than those who do not use OCs and suggests that, while regularly taking an oral contraceptive will not confer complete protection, it may help to limit bone loss in young women suffering from anorexia nervosa.</p>
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<p>ASRM is proud to announce that we have entered into an agreement with RESOLVE: the National Infertility Association to form a new partnership focused on access to care and patient education efforts. ASRM and RESOLVE have a long and successful history of working together to improve conditions for patients, and this agreement brings a new, more formal status to that relationship. The joint efforts will focus on three areas: supporting RESOLVE’s <u>Coverage at Work </u>initiative, working together on policy advocacy efforts, and improving ASRM’s Patient Education offerings.</p>
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<p>The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, the United States’ primary organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is releasing its latest national and clinic-specific ART data, today.</p>
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<p><em>Washington, DC</em> - The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) applauds the news that New York has passed a long overdue update to the state’s infertility statute as part of its budget bill today.</p>
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<p>New York lawmakers passed a budget measure late yesterday which updates the state’s existing infertility statute to include a requirement for health plans operating in the large group market (employers with 100 or more full-time staff) to provide coverage for three cycles of in-vitro fertilization. The budget measure also includes a provision requiring that patients at risk for iatrogenic infertility be covered for fertility preservation services. </p>
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<p>The newly established ASRM Research Institute invites applications from investigators to develop research projects addressing fundamental questions of major clinical significance to reproductive medicine. Preference for funding will be given to projects that attempt to answer timely, basic and clinically relevant questions of potential high impact to the practice of reproductive medicine and which are currently not fundable (either because of applicable existing federal law or because of relatively lower prioritization) by federal funding agencies. Applicants are advised to review the recently published ASRM Research Blueprint identifying the list of research priorities for the Society.</p>
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<p>This week, members of ASRM’s leadership team are meeting with other leaders in reproductive health from around the world in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is holding its Global Summit on Safety and Access to Fertility Care to develop strategies for improving access to safe, ethical, and cost-effective fertility care, particularly in developing countries. This conference follows up on an ASRM-sponsored meeting in 2015.</p>
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<p>Statement attributable to ASRM President, Peter Schlegel, MD.</p>
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<p>“We have reviewed the report of He Jiankui of Shanghai, China, regarding the initiation of a twin pregnancy after premature human application of the unfolding scientific technique of CRISPER/Cas to modify genes in human embryos as part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. Although gene editing may have an important place in human medicine in the future, it should only be used clinically after careful study done with vigorous oversight. </p>
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<p>Birmingham, AL – The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) today announced the appointment of William W. Hurd, MD to the post of Chief Medical Officer.</p>
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<p>The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is pleased to announce the Prize Papers and Posters of the 2018 Scientific Congress and Expo. We congratulate the winners on their achievements and contributions to medical science.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Innovation in embryo grading is taking the form of artificial intelligence systems that can grade embryos and accurately predict ART outcomes. Australian and US groups presented new research Wednesday at ASRM’s Scientific Congress and Expo.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, Co</em> – Peter Schlegel became President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine today at the Society’s Scientific Congress and Expo in Denver.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO-</em> Today, Scandinavian and American researchers presented the outcomes of a large prospective cohort study, looking at the connection between mortality risk and a diagnosis of male factor infertility. Men diagnosed with azoospermia- no sperm observed in the ejaculate- were found to be at increased risk of dying during the years following assisted reproduction treatment compared to men with no male factor diagnosis. This risk was not seen for men with low sperm counts.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO-</em> Two new studies presented today at the Scientific Congress of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine show that sperm quality has declined noticeably this century in infertility patients and sperm donors, alike</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO </em>– A team of Harvard-based investigators today told the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress that a fertility patient’s pre-conception exposure to common environmental toxins were associated with a higher chance of a pre-term delivery.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Researchers from Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan found that semen quality differed significantly between ethnic groups in a retrospective institutional review. African American men had lower average sperm counts and motility and more abnormal sperm forms than Caucasian men. And Middle Eastern and African American men were more likely to suffer from azoospermia (no sperm in the ejaculate) than Caucasian men.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO-</em> Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri presented their findings today at the ASRM’s Scientific Congress and Expo in Denver, Colorado. In a prospective cohort study designed to determine the associations of different measures of chronodisruption with time to conception (TTC), they found that women who were trying to become pregnant, who had more regular bedtimes, took less time to conceive than those whose bedtimes were more erratic.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- A study presented today at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress evaluated the association between impaired sleep and reduced testosterone levels in men. Aging, increasing alcohol consumption, and higher BMI also contribute to lower testosterone levels.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em> – Researchers as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress reported on several exciting studies in the rapidly growing field of transgender reproduction. Before undergoing medical and/or surgical transition, transgender people may freeze eggs or sperm to preserve their future fertility. New research presented today sheds light on reproductive outcomes in this population.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Presenting at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress in Denver, scientists provide an estimate of the number of organs that might be available for transplantation in the US.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Today, at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress, researchers reported for the first time that poor sexual function in pre-menopausal women can be significantly improved by androgen supplementation with DHEA.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, Co</em> – According to new research presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress, a high proportion of female veterans have been victims of sexual assault. Veterans who reported infertility were found to have suffered sexual assault at even higher rates than those who did not report fertility problems.</p>
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<p>Denver, CO – Several studies presented this week at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress revealed that outcomes of IVF procedures among African American women were not as good as for other races.</p>
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<p><em>Denver CO</em> – Fertility clinics who are members of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) overwhelmingly support laws which mandate insurance coverage for infertility care.</p>
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<p><em>Denver CO</em> – Research presented today at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress showed that while the likelihood of having infertility was not impacted by race, education level, income or other social indicators, the ability to access treatment for infertility was strongly impacted by social factors.</p>
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<p>Congress approved a $855 billion fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill (HR 6157) link that funds multiple agencies of the federal government, including the Departments of Defense, Labor, Education and Health and Human Services. The Senate voted 93-7 and the House voted 361-61 to approve the measure. President Trump signed the measure into law today. </p>
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<p>Today, President Trump signed into law a fiscal year 2019 spending measure which packages three of the twelve annual appropriations measures required to annually fund the operations of the federal government.</p>
<p>HR 5895 combines funding for the Departments of Energy, Veterans Affairs and Legislative Branch and importantly includes a reauthorization of the program ASRM has long promoted which allows the VA to cover IVF treatments for wounded veterans. Last week, the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 92-5 and the House followed suit, voting 377-20.</p>
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<p>Illinois became the fifth state with a fertility preservation statute when Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill (HB 2617) into law yesterday at Northwestern’s Prentice Women’s Hospital. The new law requires individual and group health policies to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses for standard fertility preservation services when a necessary medical treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility to an enrollee. </p>
