NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates adopted policy Monday opposing efforts to limit patient access to comprehensive, evidence-based fertility care such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Adopted at the AMA’s Interim meeting, the resolution recognizes IVF as an important part of infertility treatment options that should be offered to patients and is often the most successful option for many patients looking to grow or start their families.
The resolution also addresses growing concerns about the promotion of so-called “restorative reproductive medicine”—a rebranding of certain medical practices that may mislead patients and threaten access to timely, effective fertility care, including IVF.
The resolution noted legislative efforts at the state and federal level have sought to codify restorative reproductive medicine. Critics contend that an RRM-only approach can restrict patient access to a full spectrum of reproductive care and may delay or limit pregnancy outcomes compared to more comprehensive treatments such as IVF.
The policy affirms that many of the practices described as restorative reproductive medicine are already integral to evidence-based fertility care provided by reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, and other fertility specialists.
“Board-certified physicians who provide infertility assessment and treatment are trained to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based care that optimizes wellness, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes,” said Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AMA’s Board of Trustees. “Delays in accessing effective fertility treatment can have real and lasting consequences for patients and families.”
The newly adopted AMA policy also calls for increased NIH funding for women’s health and reproductive health research to expand understanding of infertility and its underlying causes.
IVF is rarely considered a “medically necessary” health service by health plans, and only a minority of employers offer fertility benefits. Typically, Medicaid and Medicare do not cover it. While there are many obstacles to receiving fertility care, polls show that cost is by far the single largest barrier. Making IVF affordable has broad political support.
“The AMA remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of evidence-based medicine and ensuring that all patients have access to safe, effective, and ethical reproductive health care,” Garretson said.
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The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
