Advocacy Day is an annual event hosted by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and sponsored by Shady Grove Fertility. It’s a day in which the infertility community comes together in Washington, D.C. to support legislative initiatives that will assist the 1 in 8 couples who experience infertility. SGF’s Drs. Lauren Roth, Brad Swelstad, and Gilbert Mottla represented SGF at Advocacy Day 2019 to help ensure the voices of the infertility community are heard. RESOLVE had four key items on this year’s legislative agenda:
Make Infertility Treatment More Accessible
The first bill on the Advocacy Day 2019 agenda was the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act (S. 1461), which will provide those who have government-sponsored health plans to have coverage for infertility services. Previously there were three insurance plans that offered in vitro fertilization (IVF) benefits and, over the course of the past 4 years, all three have dropped their IVF benefits from the plan. There is currently only one insurance policy that offers intrauterine insemination (IUI) benefits.
“Fertility treatment is becoming more prevalent, however the government is regressing in terms of their support. We treat many government employees here at SGF, so it’s important to advocate for their coverage,” says Dr. Brad Swelstad of SGF’s Woodbridge and Fair Oaks, VA offices.
Supporting Our Veterans
The Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act (S. 319 & H.R. 955) would provide veterans wounded in the line of duty with access to reproductive treatments and adoption assistance permanently. The original bill, which was passed after the efforts of 2016 Advocacy Day, provides IVF coverage for 2 years, but Advocates believe it’s time to make the coverage permanent.
Stop Discrimination in Foster and Adoptive Homes
Adoption can be expensive, and over 100,000 children are waiting to be moved into permanent homes; however, there are still states that discriminate against foster and adoptive parents based on race, religion, and sexual orientation. There is also discrimination against foster youth who identify as LGBTQ. The Every Child Deserves a Family Act will end this biased discrimination and help hopeful parents and youth become a family.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness
PCOS Awareness Month Resolution (H.Res. 146) would designate September as PCOS Awareness Month and increase the need for more education and research for PCOS.
“PCOS is the leading cause of infertility and impacts 5 to 10 million women and girls in the United States. SGF is committed to providing our patients with resources to learn about this highly treatable disease. This resolution will encourage the rest of the world to follow suit,” says Dr. Lauren Roth from SGF’s Frederick and Rockville, MD offices.
Advocacy Day is a yearly event in May that is open to everyone in the infertility community. If you’d like to attendee Advocacy Day 2020, please check visit RESOLVE’s website. At SGF, we support our patients by speaking up and making our voices heard. Having a family is a basic human right and SGF continues to make parenthood possible for tens of thousands of couples all over the world.
To learn more about Advocacy Day or to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.
