Trump unveils plan to make IVF cheaper

WASHINGTON — President Trump unveiled new steps Thursday that he said would dramatically reduce the cost of fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization (IVF) — saying it would mean “many more beautiful American children.”

Trump, who vowed as a candidate last year to make IVF free through either an insurance mandate or government subsidy, announced two more modest initial steps to encourage employers to offer new supplemental fertility coverage while lowering the cost of the drugs involved.

“Effective immediately, for the first time ever, we will make it legal for companies to offer supplemental insurance plans specifically for fertility — that’s never been done before,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

“With what we signed, Americans will be able to opt in to specialized coverage, just as they get vision and dental insurance, they can get fertility insurance for the first time.”

Trump said his IVF initiatives would lead to “healthier pregnancies, healthier babies, and many more beautiful American children.”

Trump also announced that the drugmaker EMD Serono had agreed to list its fertility medication Gonal-f on the forthcoming TrumpRx website for “massive discounts” — as he strong-arms pharmaceutical giants to discount drugs to government programs and the uninsured to avoid large tariffs.

“In addition, the FDA will be working with the company to expedite review and approval of another common fertility IVF drug, and currently it’s selling in Europe. It’s Pergoveris,” Trump said.

“As a result of these actions, the per cycle cost of drugs used in IVF will fall by an estimated 73% for American consumers.”

Trump tasked his administration to come up with “policy recommendations to protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments” in a February executive order aimed at promoting the fertility treatment.

“[I]t is the policy of my Administration to ensure reliable access to IVF treatment, including by easing unnecessary statutory or regulatory burdens to make IVF treatment drastically more affordable,” the order read.

In a statement, EMD Serono said its “voluntary agreement” with the Trump administration “meets the White House Executive Order on increasing access” to the company’s “approved IVF treatments and confirms America’s public policy leadership in helping families navigate a path to parenthood.”

“As a result of our collaboration with President Trump and his Administration, more families across the United States can now access and benefit from IVF innovation, and hopefully fulfill their dream of starting or expanding their family,” Danny Bar-Zohar, the CEO of healthcare for EMD Serono’s German-based parent company Merck KGaA, said.

“Gonal-f is the most prescribed follicle stimulating hormone in the U.S., and our full portfolio of IVF therapies has supported over 6 million successful births worldwide,” he added.