Fertility advocacy and charity at TFC

We believe in giving back at TFC. In this blog, I will tell you a little about our advocacy and lobbying roles. I’ll also discuss our charitable foundation.  Learn more about our fertility advocacy and charity efforts.

Advocacy and legislative lobbying as part of fertility advocacy and charity

 Expanding coverage for fertility patients involves several things. This includes convincing our legislators that infertility is a disease.  In the pursuit of this effort, both Dr. Vaughn and Dr. Silverberg have testified repeatedly over the years before the Texas state legislature.  Our efforts were rewarded when the legislature passed laws permitting donor services for the citizens of Texas.  Since that time, we have continued to mount an aggressive effort designed to further expand coverage.

Our most recent focus has been in Washington DC. There, we have actively lobbied for the Fertility Family Act of 2011. It has now been introduced into both houses of Congress.  This act calls for a $13,360 lifetime tax credit for couples who are pursuing fertility treatment. It is analogous to the credit that couples who pursue adoption currently receive.  This is an exciting part of our fertility advocacy and charity efforts.

We have met with our Congressmen, their staffs, and lobbyists who work on behalf of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine to educate them about the importance of this legislation and solicit their support.  Dr. Silverberg also serves as an advisor to Congressmen Michael McCaul, Lamar Smith, and John Carter about issues related to healthcare in general.  In this capacity, he works to keep them aware of how new legislation such as the Affordable Care Act affect the quality and cost of medical care that the citizens of Central Texas receive.  Only TFC physicians have worked to develop these important relationships and spend our time actively working on these issues.

Charitable giving

With the establishment of the Fertility Foundation of Texas, a new charitable foundation conceived by TFC, we will soon be able to enlist the assistance of individuals and companies throughout Central Texas to help us raise awareness about infertility as a curable disease.  The foundation has three main purposes: to raise awareness about infertility, to provide funding to patients who cannot otherwise afford fertility treatment, and to fund research related to the diagnosis and/or treatment of infertility.  Over the years we have been approached by many grateful patients who have wanted to be able to help other, less fortunate couples reach their dreams.  This foundation provides a mechanism through which patients, forward thinking companies, and philanthropic entities in our area can help those who continue to struggle with infertility.

Contact us to learn more about our fertility advocacy and charity.