IntegraMed Extends Shared Risk(R) Refund In Vitro Fertilization Program Options To Include Additional Services For Egg Donor Recipients

May 25, 2008

Article Date: 23 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

IntegraMed America, Inc. (NASDAQ: INMD) announced that it has expanded the scope of services available for donor egg recipients under its innovative Shared Risk® Refund Program for in vitro fertilization (IVF) . Under IntegraMed’s Shared Risk Refund IVF program, patients are entitled to a refund of up to 100% of the fee paid to IntegraMed should their IVF treatments not result in a take home baby. The new package will be offered exclusively by selected members of IntegraMed’s network of participating fertility centers.

With the expanded array of covered services, donor egg recipients enrolling in IntegraMed’s Shared Risk Refund Program now have the option to include additional fees for egg donor recruitment, screening, and compensation, as well as donor medications, anesthesia services, and the cryopreservation and storage of embryos. Typically, almost half of the total IVF expense for donor egg recipients is due to such out-of-pocket expenditures. The new enhanced package from IntegraMed covers these additional services (however covered services may vary from one fertility center to the next).

Patients may elect to enroll and pay a flat, up-front fee for either the standard donor egg recipient program, which covers only medical treatment for the egg donor and recipient, or the new enhanced services donor program.

In both the new program and the standard program, donor egg recipients are eligible for up to three IVF cycles and unlimited frozen embryo transfers (using eggs retrieved during the stimulated cycles performed during program participation) at no additional cost. As with other Shared Risk Refund Program offerings, if IVF treatment using donor eggs should fail, up to 100% of the fees paid to IntegraMed will be refunded.

“We have expanded our Shared Risk Refund Program offerings in response to the needs of patients receiving donor eggs,” said Pamela Schumann, President of IntegraMed’s Consumer Services Division. “Nearly half of all donor egg recipients will need more than one IVF cycle to be successful. Our new program helps patients pay for a multi-cycle course of treatment, including the costs typically associated with egg donors, while preserving their resources for other options if treatment should fail.

“Donor egg recipients represent the fastest growing segment of IVF volume nationally, according to a 2006 report published by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology,” continued Ms. Schumann. “This latest enhancement makes the Shared Risk Refund Program even more attractive to these patients and will help drive the growth of the program.”

About IntegraMed America, Inc.

IntegraMed America, Inc. is the leading operator of fertility centers and vein care clinics in the United States. The Company supports its provider networks with state-of-the art information systems; marketing and payer contracting; financial planning, reporting and analysis; organizational planning and development; quality assurance initiatives; human resources administration; and purchasing services. IntegraMed also offers consumer treatment-financing programs and operates http://www.integramed.com, a leading fertility portal.

The IntegraMed Fertility network consists of 31 contracted centers in 101 locations across the United States, including 171 physicians and Ph.D. scientists. One of every five IVF procedures in the U.S. is performed in an IntegraMed fertility practice. The IntegraMed Vein Clinic network is the leading provider of vein care services in the US and operates 30 centers in 11 states, principally in the Midwest and Southeast.

Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical fact, including statements concerning future results, performance, expectations and expansion of IntegraMed are forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the statements made as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the risks associated with IntegraMed’s ability to finance future growth; changes in insurance coverage, government laws and regulations regarding health care or managed care contracting; and other risks, including those identified in the company’s most recent Form 10-K and in other documents filed by IntegraMed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of May 21, 2008 and IntegraMed undertakes no duty to update this information.

IntegraMed America, Inc.

Article Source: Medical News Today

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