{"id":79997,"date":"2026-04-13T23:36:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T06:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=79997"},"modified":"2026-04-13T23:36:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T06:36:47","slug":"governor-newsom-calls-on-trump-administration-to-remove-roadblocks-to-californias-expansion-of-essential-health-benefits-including-ivf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=79997","title":{"rendered":"Governor Newsom calls on Trump administration to remove roadblocks to California\u2019s expansion of essential health benefits, including IVF"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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What you need to know:\u00a0<\/strong>California is calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to approve the state\u2019s application to update its essential health benefits (EHBs), which includes the expansion of coverage requirements for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and withdraw a proposed rule that would pass these costs onto the state.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Governor Gavin Newsom today called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to resume its review of current benchmark plan applications, approve California\u2019s proposal to expand access to IVF and other essential services, and withdraw a\u00a0proposed rule<\/a>\u00a0that would create new financial barriers to expanded coverage.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cPresident Trump calls himself the \u2018father of IVF,\u2019 yet his actions threaten IVF access to fertility care for millions of Californians. The President\u2019s HHS must withdraw this proposed rule now and approve California\u2019s updated essential health benefits so our state can expand fertility care services and other critical services, including expanded access to wheelchairs and hearing aids for children.\u201d<\/h4>\n

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Governor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Why HHS\u2019s proposal falls short<\/h2>\n

HHS says its proposed rule is aimed at reducing rising premiums. However, California\u2019s proposed additions to its benchmark plan are not a primary driver of premium increases.<\/p>\n

In effect, the new proposed rule would lock states into outdated benefit standards, freezing benefits at levels established more than a decade ago, despite significant advances in medicine and technology. California\u2019s proposal reflects modern care needs, including expanded access to fertility treatments and assistive devices.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s at stake for Californians<\/h2>\n

California\u2019s updated benchmark plan, developed in partnership with the Legislature and submitted in May 2025, would expand coverage beginning in 2027 to include:<\/p>\n