In the United States, 6.7 million women 15-44 years of age have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as reported by Science World Report.
To add to the challenge, there is an overwhelming disparity of state-by-state access to pregnancy-related coverage and fertility support, with only a few states providing robust coverage.
Now people can see where their state ranks when it comes to this issue.
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association released its annual Fertility Scorecard – an interactive, color-coded map ranking each state by how easy it is to gain access to fertility support resources and treatments in that area.
RESOLVE, in partnership with EMD Serono Inc., a biotech drug company that makes fertility treatments, evaluated states based on the number of RESOLVE support groups, the number of fertility specialists and the overall insurance “climate” in each state.
The Fertility Scorecard highlights states where the insurance mandate to cover fertility treatments may be in jeopardy as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
Additionally, RESOLVE highlighted specific states where they believe the state’s lawmakers have a history of passing laws that negatively impact the infertility community.
States are graded on an A through F scale in terms of access to facilities.
Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts all received A's.
New Hampshire, Wyoming and Alaska all received failing grades for their access to fertility services.
Most states fell in the B and C range, but many received D's: West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Illinois, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts earned an A as these states have laws requiring coverage of infertility.
Alaska, New Hampshire and Wyoming have few, if any, accredited fertility specialists and no insurance coverage requirements.
"We developed the scorecard not to publicly call out specific states for their lack of access, but to bring attention to what still needs to be done in terms of improving access to care and support in every state," said Barbara Collura, President/CEO of RESOLVE.
“We hope that by providing The Fertility Scorecard as a resource for people suffering with the disease of infertility we will help them take control of their fertility journey by becoming more educated about how to address both the financial and emotional barriers they encounter,” Collura told FoxNews.com.
“We want to create conversations between patients, HCPs, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, policymakers and employers that will increase access to fertility treatment nationwide.”
Sources:
Collura, Barbara. Email interview. 21 Apr. 2014.
Castillo, Stephanie. "Is Your State Fertility Friendly?" Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/national-infertility-awareness-week-and-state-fertility-friendly-rankings
"Does Your State Make The Top 5 For Best Fertility Treatments? [PHOTO]." Medical Daily. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
http://www.medicaldaily.com/map-fertility-friendly-states-reveals-5-best-states-pregnancy-related-insurance-coverage-and-support
"Fertility Scorecard." - WRCBtv.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/25303424/fertility-scorecard
"First Ever Fertility Scorecard Measures "Fertility Friendliness" of Each State." RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
http://www.resolve.org/about/first-ever-fertility-scorecard-measures-fertility-friendliness-of-each-state.html
"Innovative Fertility Scorecard Measures "Fertility Friendliness" of Each State." PRWeb. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/04/prweb11776532.htm
"It's National Infertility Awareness Week: States Graded on Fertility Service Access." Science World Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/14154/20140422/national-infertility-awareness-week-states-graded-fertility-service-access.htm
"New scorecard ranks states on their 'fertility friendliness'." Fox News. FOX News Network, 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/22/new-scorecard-ranks-states-on-their-fertility-friendliness
Reviewed April 23, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith