Attain Fertility Mobilizes Physicians and Patients to Support The Family Act Bill
Provides Much-Needed Tax Credits for IVF Treatment
(Purchase, NY) Doctors and patients at Attain Fertility clinics across the country are contacting their U.S. Senators and Congressional Representatives this month to ask them to support The Family Act. The bill will create a tax credit for the out-of-pocket costs associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) medical treatment. It is anticipated that the bill will be voted on before the end of the year.
Attain Fertility has worked closely with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and pharmaceutical manufacturer EMD Serono for the past year to raise awareness about The Family Act and to build support. They are joining forces again for a major awareness campaign to ensure passage of the bill. They have designated National Call-In Days from Tuesday, November 27 through Thursday, November 29 and are encouraging constituents to write letters and call their legislators about the bill.
“When our elected officials actually hear from us, it makes an enormous difference. We’ve seen it work at the state level and now it’s time to bring it to the national level,” said Dr. Michael J. Levy, Reproductive Endocrinologist and IVF Director at Shady Grove Fertility, a member of the Attain Fertility Network. “Many people, including our politicians, aren’t really clear about what the Family Act is all about. When we tell them, and can explain the impact it will have on people who want to build their families, it makes all the difference in the world.”
About the Family Act
In May 2011, a bill to create a tax credit for the out-of-pocket costs associated with infertility medical treatment was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman John Lewis (GA). Aptly named the Family Act of 2011, S 965/HR 3522 will potentially help thousands of people seek medical treatment that otherwise would be out of reach for them by creating a tax credit for the out-of-pocket costs associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility preservation after a cancer diagnosis. The IVF tax credit will be available to patients with a household income of less than $220,000, and will provide tax payers the ability to receive a credit of up to 50% of their out-of-pocket costs up to a lifetime max of $13,360. It is estimated that this tax credit will increase the number of patients accessing IVF medical treatment by 30% which may result in the birth of approximately 30,000 babies. “This is an important benefit to the nation with only 1.9 births per women and a nationwide decrease of 340,000 births in 2011 compared to 2008,” said Dr. Levy.
To create awareness, and help to raise voices in support of the Family Act, all providers at clinics in the Attain Fertility Network have been asked to spend 30 seconds with every patient they see to discuss the Family Act; to hand their patients a postcard with information about the Family Act and how to contact information; and ask them to call their members of Congress to urge them to vote for the bill. Doctors, family members and all people who care about those who are facing infertility are being asked to respond to this urgent call to action. Attain Fertility employees and its network of clinic staff members are also encouraged to show their support through the call-in and write-in campaign.
“I believe that this is a worthwhile, and comparatively small investment to the country to make in terms of fairness to couples who are dealing with infertility, to help them have good fertility treatment, as well as being a benefit of the country,” said Dr. Levy. “Children are our future, and this is an important way for us to invest in that future. The children who are born will be productive citizens who will contribute greatly to the growth of our country.”
“The Family Act is important to people diagnosed with infertility and those who want to preserve their fertility after being diagnosed with cancer,” added Barbara Collura, President/CEO of RESOLVE. “We are profoundly grateful to have the full support of Attain Fertility and are hopeful that, with their reach to 180 physicians across their network, the Family Act will be approved this year.”
Information on how to get involved in passage of The Family Act is available on RESOLVE’s website, resolve.org.
(845) 528-6647 / marcia@mcpublicrelations.com
About IntegraMed America, Inc.
IntegraMed is a leader in developing, marketing and managing specialty outpatient healthcare facilities, with a current focus on the fertility and vein care markets. IntegraMed supports its provider networks with clinical and business information systems, marketing and sales, facilities and operations management, finance and accounting, human resources, legal, risk management, quality assurance, and fertility treatment financing programs.
Attain Fertility® Centers, an IntegraMed Specialty, offers the nation’s largest fertility center network, with 34 centers, comprising 135 locations across 33 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly one of every four IVF procedures in the U.S. is performed in an Attain Fertility Centers network practice.
Vein Clinics of America, an IntegraMed Specialty, is the leading provider of specialty vein care services in the U.S. The IntegraMed Vein Clinic network operates 50 centers across 15 states, principally in the Midwest and Southeast.