IVF Benefits: LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Legal Implications and Next Steps for Plan Sponsors
Recording of a 90-minute premium CLE video webinar with Q&A
This CLE webinar will provide an update in light of the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine and the implications for companies operating in the IVF industry, including for plan sponsors. The panel will discuss the court's ruling, subsequent legislative proposals, and the litigation landscape for IVF post-LePage, and for plan sponsors, the definition of "medical care" under the Internal Revenue Code and ensuring tax-advantaged medical expense treatment under a plan, as well as other potential benefits considerations.
Outline
- Background on IVF/ART
- LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine
- Alabama Legislature’s Response to LePage and Other Legislative Proposals
- IVF Litigation
- Impact on IVF treatments for health plans and plan sponsors
- Key issues for IVF coverage and health plan design
- Best practices and next steps for plan sponsors
Benefits
The panel will discuss these and other critical issues:
- What are the claims and holding of LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine?
- What new legislation was proposed or adopted following LePage?
- How might the ruling affect IVF litigation?
- What is the future of IVF and the IVF legal landscape?
- What is the impact of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling on IVF benefits in health plans?
- How does the ruling impact health plan design and IVF coverage for those seeking options for employees?
- What are next steps for plan sponsors and administrators in light of the court's decision?
Faculty
Julie Becker
Senior Managing Associate
Sidley Austin
Ms. Becker's practice focuses on the defense of companies in products liability and class action matters in both... | Read More
Ms. Becker's practice focuses on the defense of companies in products liability and class action matters in both state and federal trial courts across the United States. She has successfully represented clients from a variety of industries, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer care products, and chemicals. Ms. Becker advises clients at all stages of the litigation process. She has played key roles in the development of defense strategy and briefed successful dispositive and discovery motions in both state and federal court. Ms. Becker also has experience in fact and expert development and discovery, including preparing fact, company, and expert witnesses for depositions, taking depositions and day-to-day case management. She has developed experience in the various state consumer protection statutes, having handled class action consumer fraud cases pending in multiple jurisdictions. Ms. Becker leads clients through class action settlement approval and negotiated individual settlements both directly and through mediation. She has prepared witnesses for trial and litigated two federal jury trials, including conducting an opening statement and direct and cross-examinations at trial. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Ms. Becker was selected to the Illinois Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers, recognized as one of the top rated Class Action & Mass Torts attorneys in Chicago.
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Elizabeth M. Chiarello
Partner
Sidley Austin
Ms. Chiarello is a nationally recognized lawyer with nearly two decades of experience handling mass tort, toxic tort,... | Read More
Ms. Chiarello is a nationally recognized lawyer with nearly two decades of experience handling mass tort, toxic tort, products liability, class actions, and other complex disputes. A seasoned and vigorous advocate both in and outside of the courtroom, she helps clients manage their most complex cases, including preparing high-stakes matters for trial and serving as national coordinating and trial counsel in mass litigation. Ms. Chiarello has successfully defended class actions and mass tort cases on behalf of Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries, including industrial services, medical device and device sterilization, pharmaceutical, electronics, financial services, transportation, telecommunications, cosmetics, food, and nutritional supplements. She has served as national coordinating counsel in a variety of putative nationwide class actions and mass tort lawsuits filed in federal and state courts across the country. Ms. Chiarello has successful jury trial experience, having first-chaired a jury trial in southern Illinois, where she won a significant verdict in her client’s favor. She has received numerous accolades in response to the high quality of her work, including letters of recommendation from in-house counsel, Law Bulletin’s Leading Lawyers recognition as one of the Leading & Emerging Women Lawyers in Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law and Products Liability Defense Law, recommendation by The Legal 500 US in the categories of Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense: Automotive/Transport, as well as in Consumer Products. Ms. Chiarello was selected by Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ) to receive the inaugural “Outstanding Contributor” award for her volunteer advocacy efforts on behalf of LCJ’s membership. She is a frequent speaker at a number of acclaimed conferences, including ACI’s Annual Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Forum on Cosmetics and Personal Care Products; Grocery Manufacturer’s Association Legal Conference; ABA Food and Supplements Conference; and Momentum’s Food and Beverage Conference.
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Tiffany D. Downs
Partner
FordHarrison
Ms. Downs advises and assists plan administrators and fiduciaries with the design, drafting and administration of... | Read More
Ms. Downs advises and assists plan administrators and fiduciaries with the design, drafting and administration of welfare and pension plans, including qualified and non-qualified plans, as well as ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA compliance issues. She defends claims under ERISA for benefits, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and claims for equitable relief and discrimination for ERISA plan sponsors, plan administrators, fiduciaries, and third-party administrators.
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