Donald Trump has risked the ire of some conservatives by making in vitro fertilization more accessible – and now he’s enlisted a famous NASCAR wife for some help on the matter.
As she revealed on Instagram, Samantha Busch – wife of Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch – was invited to the White House to discuss Trump’s efforts to bring down the costs of IVF treatment.
‘Honored to be invited to the White House to meet with the Office of the Domestic Policy Council in support of the President’s Executive Order to make IVF treatments more accessible and more affordable,’ Samantha wrote on Instagram.
Samantha and Kyle Busch have two children born through IVF treatments and their charity, the Bundle of Joy Fund, provides grants to Charlotte-area couples seeking IVF due to infertility.
‘I was able to provide feedback and input based my personal 10-year experience as a patient, as an advocate, and as the founder of The Bundle of Joy Fund,’ Samantha continued on Instagram. ‘We had another constructive conversation surrounding what contributes to the high cost of treatment, the increase in infertility rates, and trends we see amongst our applicants.
‘We will keep having the conversations that matter and use our voice for change!’
Samantha Busch is seen walking towards the Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Samantha Busch – wife of Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch – was invited to the White House to discuss Donald Trump’s efforts to bring down the costs of IVF treatment
Trump signed an executive order in February directing the government to expand access to in vitro fertilization and reduce the costs of the popular fertility treatment.
The order, which directed Trump’s domestic policy chief to produce a list of policy recommendations protecting IVF access and cut costs for individuals within 90 days, did not address how the costs would be covered.
Most states currently do not require insurers to cover IVF, which involves combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory dish to create an embryo for couples having difficulty conceiving. Even with insurance coverage, IVF can cost thousands of dollars in drugs and medical procedures.
“It is the policy of my Administration to ensure reliable access to IVF treatment, including by easing unnecessary statutory or regulatory burdens to make IVF treatment drastically more affordable,” the order said.
More than 85,000 infants were born as a result of IVF in 2021, the White House said in a fact sheet, citing data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Costs can range from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle and multiple cycles may be needed to get pregnant.
The US fertility rate dropped 3 percent in 2023 from 2022, the White House said, and decreased by 2 percent annually between 2014 and 2020. The US birth rate was 1.67 births per woman in 2022, according to World Bank data, below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to maintain the population without immigration.
Kyle Busch poses for photos with wife Samantha, son Brexton and daughter Lennix on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 on June 4, 2023 in Madison, Illinois
The order will also ensure the government examines current policies, including those requiring legislation to change, that make the treatment more expensive, the White House said.
Trump said during his election campaign that he would require the government or insurance companies to pay for IVF fertility treatments if elected.
IVF emerged as a hot-button issue in the 2024 presidential election after the conservative Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are children. That ruling left it unclear how to legally store, transport and use embryos, prompting some IVF patients to consider moving their frozen embryos out of the state.
Senate Republicans twice blocked Democratic-led legislation designed to protect IVF access last year, with some arguing it was unnecessary because that was not in danger.
Kyle is the younger brother of fellow NASCAR driver Kurt Busch. Kyle earned NASCAR Cup Series titles in 2015 and 2019, while Kurt won the crown in 2004.
