Texas Fertility Center Physician Takes a Stand on Capitol Hill for Infertility
Austin, Texas (PRWEB) May 13, 2014 -- Fertility specialist and TFC founder Dr. Thomas C. Vaughn, Dr. Kaylen Silverberg, and retired Air Force Colonel Dr. Tony Propst have each testified before Congress in past years in support of infertility awareness, research, and insurance coverage. This year, Dr. Silverberg joined RESOLVE on Capitol Hill, asking for greater access to care for the one in seven American couples facing infertility.
More than 150 advocates lobbied the congressional delegation in Washington, DC on May 7th in support of the Family Act of 2013. The active bill in the 113th Congress, expiring in December 2014, would expand insurance coverage to provide for a tax credit for the out-of-pocket expenses associated with:
• In-vitro fertilization IVF
• Fertility preservation for cancer patients and single women
• Family building options for our nation’s wounded veterans
Texas is a key state in this legislation, so Austin resident Dr. Silverberg met with elected officials who have already signed the Family Act bill: Congressman John Carter (TX-R); Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-R); and Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-R). The co-founder of one of Texas’ most established fertility centers also shared his insights with Representative Eric Cantor (VA-R), Majority Whip; Congressman Kevin McCarthy (CA-R); and Senator Ted Cruz (TX-R).
Advocacy Day, Created by RESOLVE and Championed by Fertility Specialists
Infertility affects over 7.3 million couples in the U.S. Despite the fact that infertility is one of the few medical diseases that is curable, the treatment of infertility is rarely covered by insurance. That needs to change, says Dr. Silverberg.
“Texas Fertility Center supports legislation that will give families who wish to conceive options to have their own biological children, as well as the same lifetime tax credit afforded to couples who choose to build their families through adoption,” says Dr. Silverberg. “What’s more, having the financial freedom to pursue more than one IVF cycle would reduce the personal pressure to transfer multiple embryos in the hope of having an instant family.”
Resolve to Know More about Infertility
This year’s Infertility Awareness Week theme, Resolve to Know More, reinforced the need to know the facts about the disease of infertility, and pending legislation that benefits the 7.4 million Americans who have trouble conceiving. The good news is that between 80 and 88% of couples diagnosed with infertility who see a reproductive endocrinologist and stick with the plan will conceive.
About Texas Fertility Center
Texas Fertility Center (TFC), one of the nation’s leading full-service infertility practices, provides advanced Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology services to patients throughout Texas, the Southwestern United States, and the Americas. Since 1980, TFC has been recognized nationally for outstanding pregnancy rates, cutting-edge laboratory procedures, and innovative research programs. For more information, please visit http://www.txfertility.com.
Amy Hall, Catalyst Healthcare Marketing, http://www.txfertility.com, +1 (214) 893-8214, [email protected]
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