INTRODUCING MOST-FAVORED-NATION PRICING FOR WOMEN’S FERTILITY MEDICATIONS: Today, President Donald J. Trump unveiled the latest agreement with a top pharmaceutical company aimed at aligning U.S. drug prices with the lowest prices available in other developed nations, a measure known as most-favored-nation (MFN) pricing. This collaboration is with renowned fertility medication manufacturer EMD Serono and promises considerable savings on fertility treatments.
- Women can now access GONAL-F, a frequently prescribed fertility drug, at a staggering discount of 796% off the deal price when purchased directly through TrumpRx.gov.
- Women from low- and middle-income households (earning below 550% of the Federal poverty threshold) will benefit from an additional discount, totaling 2,320% off the deal price at TrumpRx.gov.
- According to estimates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, women could see savings of up to $2,200 per cycle for fertility drugs, which often exceed $5,000 in cost. Fertility medications account for nearly 20% of the overall expense of a fertility treatment cycle.
- This agreement also ensures that EMD Serono will provide additional medications at significant discounts for direct sales to American patients, guarantee MFN pricing on new innovative drugs entering the market, enhance revenue repatriation on existing products, and allow every State Medicaid program nationwide to access MFN pricing on EMD Serono offerings.
- For the first time, EMD Serono will be investing in U.S. manufacturing, initiating the production of IVF drugs domestically within the timelines outlined in the agreement.
STREAMLINING PROCESSES FOR AFFORDABLE MEDICATION: President Trump additionally announced plans for the FDA to prioritize a lower-cost fertility drug in the first group of recipients for the Commissioner’s National Priority Review Voucher program.
- This lower-cost alternative to existing expensive medications has already gained approval in Europe, although it is not yet available in the United States.
- The priority review voucher initiative reduces the application review timeline significantly, from 10-12 months down to just 1-2 months.
- If approved under this expedited process, American patients can look forward to even lower prices and heightened competition in the fertility medication sector.
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO EXPAND COVERAGE AND INCREASE ACCESS: Furthermore, President Trump introduced a new Benefit Option for fertility services. This initiative allows employers to provide fertility benefits directly to their employees, similar to how they offer dental, vision, and life insurance, creating great potential to broaden IVF access.
- The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury have announced that employers may now offer standalone benefit packages specifically for employees seeking infertility treatment coverage, including IVF.
- Plans are underway for rulemaking to further enable employers to expand their offerings related to fertility benefits.
- The new benefit packages can encompass a wide range of fertility-related services, targeting the root causes of infertility up to IVF treatments.
- This initiative promises to help more families achieve healthy pregnancies. Companies offering fertility benefits report nearly 25% higher live birth rates among women utilizing such services compared to those without access.
- This solution responds to the limited coverage options available for American families and opens doors for small- and medium-sized businesses to provide fertility benefits. Despite the fact that many individuals in their reproductive years have health insurance through their employers, coverage for fertility medications, IVF, and non-IVF treatments is often lacking.
- Currently, 42% of employers provide coverage for fertility services.
- 32% extend coverage for fertility medications.
- 32% include IVF coverage, and an even smaller percentage (19%) offer coverage for non-IVF treatments. Notably, 70% of large employers offer IVF coverage.
FULFILLING PROMISES FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES: President Trump is committed to improving access to IVF and reducing the costs associated with it to help American families grow, thereby supporting family formation and stability.
- An estimated one in eight couples seeking to conceive face challenges, often compounded by financial barriers related to IVF, which can range from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle, often requiring multiple attempts to achieve pregnancy.
- Efforts to lower expenses and enhance access to IVF and quality fertility care will facilitate more healthy pregnancies and newborns, especially significant at a time when U.S. fertility rates are at a historic low.
- In addition, President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts established Trump Accounts, which provide newborns with a $1,000 investment to secure their financial future from birth.
- The Working Families Tax Cuts have also expanded and solidified increases in the Child Tax Credit that the President championed during his first term, benefiting over 40 million families.
- President Trump has consistently emphasize the need for larger families: “We want more babies, to put it nicely. For this reason, we will permit new parents to deduct substantial newborn expenses from their taxes, making it easier for families to welcome a new child. I’m a strong advocate for IVF since the beginning as I understand the financial impact it has on many people trying to conceive.”
