GLMA 2009 Conference
September 23, 2009 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
Understanding the Healthcare Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals
A growing number of medical societies, health plans, academic institutions, public health officials and others have recognized the need for healthcare providers to receive special training on how to meet the unique healthcare needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. This fall, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) is hosting the 27th Annual Conference of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association to address this need.
I am honored to be one of the featured speakers at this event discussing how gay and lesbian families can navigate the alternative family building journey through surrogacy.
The conference will be held on September 30 – October 3, 2009 at the Westin Washington, DC, City Center. It is the world’s largest scientific meeting focusing on LGBT health, healthcare delivery, workplace discrimination, and healthcare education and offers up to 18 hours of continuing education for healthcare professionals. In addition to rich educational offerings, the conference provides ample opportunities to meet and socialize with other healthcare professionals, students and GLMA members.
More information about the Annual Conference, including a preliminary program of educational offerings, is available at www.glma.org/annualconference.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infertility
July 29, 2009 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
I saw an interesting article in the Associated Press earlier this week that has prompted me to write this post. In the article, a Wisconsin doctor claims that the number one public health threat that no one’s talking about is the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases. He cited STDs as one of the major causes of infertility and infant mortality. See article here.
If you’ve been trying to conceive and haven’t been successful, consider being tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Many sexually transmitted diseases can lay dormant for years and many women who contract STD’s do not develop visible symptoms and therefore, do not know to seek treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most preventable causes of infertility. The CDC sites about 2.8 million new cases of chlamydia every year in the United States and 718,000 new cases of gonorrhea. Over time, these diseases can be silently damaging your ability to have a baby. These STDs can cause an infection in your reproductive organs, know as pelvic inflammatory disease which can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and make conception and pregnancy very difficult.
There are several ways to prevent STDs and monitor for them, as follows:
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Always engage in protected sexual intercourse.
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Get tested for STDs regularly. The CDC recommends routine testing for all women over the age of 25.
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Learn the symptoms of STDs and seek medical help as soon as possible if any symptoms develop
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Talk with your sexual partners about their sexual health and past sexual activities.
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Delay having sexual relationships as long as possible – the younger a person is when they begin to have sex for the first time, the more susceptible they become to developing an STD
Jude Andrew Adams Fund
June 11, 2009 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
I am proud to announce that Lotus Blossom Consulting has officially established the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund to bring new life to families who are struggling to conceive. motivation and intention in creating this grant is to offer a free fertility treatment for those who could not otherwise afford it. To learn more about this fund and how it came to fruition, please click here.
Applications for a free treatment cycle are now being accepted. The board of directors will select from applicants who meet the following criteria:
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Have a history of infertility, and provide a physician documented medical indication for exploring IVF treatment along with the application
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Demonstrate a financial need; defined as a gross combined annual income less than $80,000. A copy of the last two years’ IRS tax returns and two of the most recent pay stubs is required.
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No insurance coverage for infertility treatments.
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Do not currently have any children.
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Be under age 40.
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Be current legal citizens of the United States and living in the United States at the time of the award and subsequent treatment.
Thank you all for your help and support for this great cause.
Patient Advocacy in Preserving Fertility
March 19, 2009 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
I am so honored to have the opportunity to sponsor a very special film entitled In The Family at the Women’s Resource Fair in Evanston Illinois. This very powerful and moving documentary eloquently displays and affords so many BRCA gene victims with education and information on a topic that is all too often stigmatized and avoided because it is too painful to discuss.
I believe the quote “…information really is a blessing. It’s a source of power.” perfectly depicts your relevant take away message.
I work every day with clients nationwide in your situation. Women who are facing the fear of the unknown, and or the inherent actuality of not being able to deal with the outcome of test results, or worst yet the reality of what options may exist, if any.
These are beautiful women in the prime of their reproductive years who need to know how best to maximize their chances of success while simultaneously increasing their opportunities for biological family building.
It pains me to see women so secretive, ashamed and feeling isolated and alone in this difficult decision making process.
It is my hope that In The Family delivers very powerful and important message to help women become their own best advocates as it relates to their health. Advocacy must start with education, awareness, information, and resources necessary to allow each one of us to make informed medical decisions.
In my experience, part of the decision making process that needs to be incorporated when dealing with test results or deciding whether or not to undergo testing is often influenced by the desire and innate need to have biological offspring. Perhaps if women knew and understood the available options today in the very advanced and technologically savvy world of in-vitro fertilization, the difficult decisions that have to be made, could be lessened by the increase in reproductive opportunities available today for the future.
The newest technology to enter the infertility arena is Egg Banking. This technique allows women to freeze their own biological eggs for use in the future. Egg banking is available to women up to 38 years of age. It is a wonderful new option for those who have put off child bearing for careers, for finding the right partner, and also for those who may have suffered medical diagnosis that could compromise future fertility.
Freezing eggs allows women to avoid having to use an anonymous sperm donor until they are ready to fertilize the eggs, at which time they may have identified a known sperm donor. Another advantage of egg banking is that eggs can be thawed in the future, fertilized with sperm of choice and then refrozen as embryos for future in vitro fertilization treatment cycles. This fast growing and very new technology offers more choices and much more flexibility with fertility treatment options for the future.
If you are interested in more details, I will be sharing in detail this option as well as many others on Saturday March 21st at 3:15 in my presentation entitled Conceivable Options: Exploring Fertility Choices. The Unitarian Church 1330 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Illinois.
E-Book Offers Options During National Infertility Awareness Week
November 13, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
CHICAGO, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, a Chicago-based infertility consultancy with clients around the world,announces the availability of their free E-Book, Financing Your Infertility Treatment, available on their website at www.lotusblossomconsulting.com. The E-Book addresses the financial aspects of infertility, and it will be available beginning with National Infertility Awareness Week, November 4 – 10, 2007, and beyond.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, most infertility cases — 85% to 90% — are treated with conventional medical therapies such as medication or surgery. Yet, infertility treatment can be costly, success rates are not guaranteed, and insurance benefits may be limited.
“Beyond simply the medical issues, there are so many factors to consider when dealing with infertility,” says Mindy Berkson, co-founder Blossom Consulting. “Proper financial planning and utilization of insurance benefits in the right order can help you effectively minimize costs, maximize insurance benefits, and save significant out of pocket expenditures. Lotus Blossom’s E-Book can help.”
The E-Book, Financing Your Infertility Treatment, provides an overview of financing options available, with particular emphasis placed on individualized tax situations, specific insurance benefits, and the total financial resources available before undergoing the infertility journey.For more information on the E-Book, contact Lotus Blossom Consulting tollfree at (877) 881-2685, email consultant@lotusblossomconsulting.com or visit them on the web at www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.
ABOUT LOTUS BLOSSOM CONSULTING, LLCAs one of the first infertility consultancies in the United States,Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC was founded by Mindy Berkson in 2005 after her own personal battle with secondary infertility. With extensive experience in all aspects of infertility, from egg donors and surrogates to in-vitro fertilization, Lotus Blossom Consulting works with individuals on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration clients’ emotional,physical and financial infertility issues then develops an individualized,comprehensive plan, including relevant insurance information, to help clients make informed decisions. Lotus Blossom Consulting has worked with many individuals to enrich their lives by helping them to fulfill their dreams of having children.
For more information about Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, call tollfree (877) 881- 2685, email consultant@lotusblossomconsulting.com or visitthem on the web at www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.
Financing Your Fertility: Healthcare Plan Arrangements
November 1, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
Before beginning any discussion about insurance coverage, it’s important to explain the status of fertility benefits in the United States. Not every employer is required to cover fertility treatments; this benefit is delineated per state.
States that do require some benefit level for infertility treatments are called “mandated to cover” states, although specific rules may vary from state to state: Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and West Virginia are “mandated to cover” states.
Others, called “mandated to offer” states, require infertility benefits to be offered for additional purchase: California, Connecticut and Texas are “mandated to offer” states (This list may have changed as of the printing of this article).
To make it more complicated, large, national corporations oftentimes offer the same benefits company-wide, resulting in exceptions to the states’ directive. For example, you may live in a state that mandates coverage, but work for a company that is not required by the federal government to meet the state’s benefit mandate. On the other hand, if you live in a state that does not require fertility coverage; you may still be covered through your employer. In addition to these complications, many times your healthcare plan may cover some parts of your treatment even if you work in a state that does not mandate coverage. It is extremely important, therefore, that you contact your Human Resources department and your healthcare plan provider to discuss in detail your benefits.
I’m the cover story on City Woman Chicago!
October 24, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
Check out the full issue table of contents here.
It’s difficult to express how excited I am – Seeing my family on the front cover of the magazine was overwhelming.
While this is a print publication, they also have a .pdf version online so you can read the article even if you aren’t in Chicago. (Fact: Over half of my clients are international, so I’m used to making sure people that aren’t in the same area I am get the info they need!)
Let me know what you think of the article…thanks!
ART balance of expense to cost.
October 23, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
“The economics of health care is of vital importance to our patients, and to society generally. Using a standard measure like cost per additional year of life, infertility treatments are one of great bargains in modern health care,” stated David Adamson, MD, President-elect of ASRM. (Full Article Here)
Wow! It was actually shown in a study that adding ART as a benefit of a health insurance plan only increased the cost of insurance per member an eensy weensy bit.
The ASRM is the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The information and studies they do are published in peer-reviewed journals (the good kind) and the results are really promising!
Building the Foundation for Infertility Treatment
October 22, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
Download a registration form or call (312) 582-6035 to register.
Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, is a concierge service for people undergoing fertility treatment. Join the company’s founders, MINDY BERKSON and TONI SIRAGUSA, for this seminar that will discuss a range of issues confronting people with infertility: maximizing insurance benefits, choosing a fertility center, holistic opportunities, and financing treatment. Berskon has worked in the industry for over 10 years in a variety of capacities both at donor agencies and at fertility centers. Siragusa is a financial planner and insurance agent who has worked specifically with couples undergoing infertility to properly plan for and finance treatment. Check out their Web site at www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.
Location: Latin Upper School, 59 W. North Blvd.
Instructor: Mindy Berkson & Toni Siragusa Course Fee: $40
Date: Thu, 25-Oct 1 Class Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund
August 31, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · 3 Comments
Lotus Blossom Consulting has established the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund to bring hope and new life to those in need. Through this grant, we are offering a free fertility treatment cycle for financially needy individuals.
