Feds propose rule to expand employer fertility benefit coverage

The Department of Labor and HHS issued a proposed rule aimed at helping employers expand fertility benefit coverage under employer-sponsored health plans. The rule seeks to clarify plan design and fiduciary standards to encourage coverage of treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility preservation, which are currently excluded by many plans due to cost and legal complexity. If finalized, this would increase patient demand for fertility services and could prompt payers to adjust medical policy and prior authorization requirements for reproductive medicine codes. The rule is part of a broader administrative effort to address gaps in reproductive healthcare access. Practices in reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics should watch for the rule's publication in the Federal Register and the subsequent comment period to assess potential impacts on covered services and patient eligibility.