Improving Implementation of Fertility Preservation Benefit Mandates

What barriers and facilitators impact access to fertility preservation services following fertility preservation insurance benefit mandate passage?In this mixed-methods study including 48 fertility and oncology clinic representatives across 26 institutions in 3 states, fertility and oncology clinics assisted patients accessing insurance for fertility preservation procedures after mandate passage. Clinic-insurer and patient-insurer communication on eligibility for mandated benefits and covered services were barriers across clinics, while facilitators included clinic commitment to financial navigation resources and insurers with clear benefit structure and member handbooks.Interventions and tools to address barriers and maximize facilitators within and between insurers, clinics, and patients are needed to improve access to fertility preservation services.

Corresponding Authors: Sara B. McMenamin, PhD, MPH, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, Dept 0725, La Jolla, CA 92093-0725 (smcmenamin@health.ucsd.edu); H. Irene Su, MD, MSCE, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Dr, Dept 0901, La Jolla, CA 92093-0901 (hisu@health.ucsd.edu).

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