Columbia Fertility FAQs

How did Columbia Fertility Associates get started?
Columbia Fertility Associates was formed in 1978 as part of The Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, DC. Although the hospital closed in 2002, the fertility practice still flourished with the opening of our office in Washington.
How does insurance coverage work for infertility-related services?
Not all insurance companies cover infertility treatment, but many do cover diagnostic testing. Depending on your medical benefits a few will cover treatment. Some even cover IVF. We have knowledgeable insurance specialists who will help verify your coverage.
What questions should I ask my insurance provider?
Always make sure you get answers to these three questions:
1) What coverage do I have for diagnostic testing?
2) What treatments are covered?
3) Is IVF covered?
Do not assume that the insurance representative understands infertility treatments. Get the name of the person you are speaking with and write down the date. It is best to get the information in writing whenever possible. You may have separate coverage for medications. This may mean calling a different number to find out about medical coverage.
Why choose Columbia Fertility Associates?
Our physicians have a broad range of certifications and experiences, making them one of the most highly regarded groups of physicians in the District of Columbia. Our patients come from the greater Washington D.C. metro area as well as other locations around the United States and from all parts of the world. We offer a broad range of services and competitive pricing. Our approach to patient care is based on your individual needs and our staff develops personal relationships with our patients over the course of their treatment with us.
Will my doctor be making all the decisions for my treatment and will he/she be there to perform my egg retrieval and embryo transfer?
Your individual physician will work with you to make decisions during your infertility treatment cycles. There may be times when your doctor is not available and another provider from the practice may have to be consulted. Your retrieval and transfer will be scheduled with your individual physician whenever possible. At Columbia Fertility Associates, we pride ourselves on providing personalized service and believe that it is important that our patients feel comfortable in knowing that their own doctor is intimately involved in their treatment. This commitment to our patients is what makes us different from other programs in the region.
Does Columbia Fertility Associates report statistics to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART)?
All programs performing assisted reproductive technology cycles are required by law to report their data to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Columbia Fertility Associates is a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), and we report data to the CDC through SART.
Are your laboratories accredited?
Our laboratory is registered in Washington, D.C. It has been inspected by appropriate agencies and received certificates of accreditation. The IVF Laboratory in Washington, D.C. has been inspected and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) since 2005. Inspections occur every two years. For patients, accreditation is assurance that the laboratory meets the highest standards of excellence as recognized by its peers. JCAHO accreditation is the strongest in the nation, and we are proud to say we are the only fertility center in the area that has earned this honor.
Do you have an age limit for fertility treatment?
No. We know that fertility decreases with age. Women in their 40s do not get pregnant as easily and have an increased rate of miscarriage. However, fertility does not stop on your 40th birthday. We treat each woman individually and counsel you on your available options.