Our Las Vegas fertility doctors support the new Nevada fertility preservation bill
Everyone deserves to achieve their dream of having a family. However, a cancer diagnosis can put this dream in jeopardy. Thankfully, oncofertility support in the form of egg, sperm and embryo freezing can help preserve fertility and family-building dreams. The new Nevada fertility preservation bill would require coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients.
The Fertility Center of Las Vegas wholeheartedly supports this legislation, which is why Dr. Carrie Bedient and Dr. Leah Kaye spoke in favor of it to legislators. Read on to learn what our Las Vegas fertility doctors had to say.
What is the goal of the Nevada fertility preservation bill?
This bill is also known as The Medically Necessary Fertility Preservation Act. It would require certain healthcare service plans, including Medicaid, to cover the medically necessary expenses of fertility preservation for cancer patients (oncofertility). If passed, insurance plans would have to pay for oncofertility support services.
So far, 10 states have passed similar laws, and in Nevada, this would help an estimated 1,480 cancer patients this year. Clearly, the Nevada fertility preservation bill could do a lot of good.
What did our doctors say in support of the bill?
Our Las Vegas fertility doctors are passionate about making oncofertility support more affordable and accessible. According to Dr. Bedient, “Despite a willingness from our fertility clinic to drop everything to fit in a patient with a new cancer diagnosis, some patients cannot financially access those services due to complete lack of coverage.”
Our billing and insurance team works hard to expedite insurance coverage for oncofertility support, but it’s not always successful. “Many insurance companies will deny coverage because these patients are not currently infertile,” Dr. Bedient explains.
“We cut fees as much as possible to help patients when their insurance won’t cover the oncofertility support they need to preserve their fertility. However, no patient should ever have to hear that their insurance won’t cover something that’s medically necessary,” Dr. Kaye says.
The goal of the Nevada fertility preservation bill is to remove the financial barriers to accessing oncofertility services in the state. According to Dr. Kaye, “Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to preserving fertility before beginning cancer treatment, and this bill will help make sure that it’s not.”
Want to learn more about fertility preservation before cancer treatment? Contact us and let us know that you have a cancer diagnosis so that we can expedite your appointment.