What has you most optimistic about the future of health care?

Employers are paying more attention to the value of their health benefits. It’s not enough to just provide a bare minimum benefit and check it off your to-do list. Benefits and incentives, especially regarding health, are a major draw for top employees, who are more likely to take and stay in a position at a company that offers – not just benefits – but high quality benefits. Employers are also realizing that higher quality benefits do not always mean spending more money. Benefits must be cost effective. This means it is important to provide quality benefits that employees want at an employer cost that realizes a positive ROI for the company. It’s refreshing to see more businesses recognizing the importance of investing in benefits that are of high value to both their employees and to their company, especially where employee health and emotional wellness are concerned.

What are the top priorities for your organization this year?

Our top priority at ARC Fertility is to help employers become more aware of the importance of family forming benefits to their employees and to the success of their company. The desire to have children is a major motivator for employees, but inclusive and comprehensive fertility benefits are still not offered as often as they should be. Current offerings tend to discriminate against people who are not in traditional marriages. This is not only ethically wrong but robs employers of the chance to attract diverse teams of people looking for fair and equitable access to family forming treatments and programs. Family forming care is becoming as indispensable to any competitive benefits package as general healthcare or a 401K, and we want to get the word out.

How do you think health care stakeholders can bring care closer to consumers/patients?

Stakeholders need to provide accurate information, personal support, and easy transition to care through integration of individualized digital solutions, personal journey navigation, emotional support and high-quality care. Family forming is highly personal and almost always stressful. Patients need to be able to interface with their treatments, programs, and caregivers smoothly and freely. High quality providers offer full-service apps that are easy to navigate, provide fact-based information and help individuals with their planning and decision-making. Patients also need access to centers of excellence – organizations and locations where expert help and guidance is available to help patients achieve the best outcomes in their fertility journeys.

What are some of the key trends you are seeing with respect to employer-sponsored health care?

Employers are becoming more focused on value and employee equity. Higher value, of course, requires superior quality and/or lower cost. Higher quality requires better outcomes related to employee needs while lower cost often entails innovative programs. A common misperception is that it is always necessary to pay more to achieve better outcomes. In fact, the combination of a well-designed program, evidence-based care and innovative pricing can avoid waste and achieve better outcomes at a lower cost. Employee equity is about creating a fair and equitable environment for all workers, as well as attracting a diverse team to meet company goals and empower companies with more than just the traditional perspectives. Workplaces that offer equitable benefits to all employees are more likely to gain the attention of all sorts of employees who want access to those benefits, and to work in a place where they are appreciated.

What motivates you to keep doing the work that you do?

Everyone at ARC Fertility is passionate about increasing access to high quality, high-value family-forming care. I’m excited that employers are now more interested because they see the value not only to their employees but also to their company. That’s ultimately what keeps me motivated: knowing that our value offering isn’t just good for business or good for people or even the right thing to do: it has all those attributes. Businesses gain access to the best and most diverse workers, workers feel valued and get the help they need to start their families, and it’s objectively a step toward greater equity and inclusivity in the workplace. If we offer everyone the same benefits, we send out the message that everyone has the same value, in and out of the workplace.