President Trump’s dual-pronged action on expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) is garnering mixed reactions from lawmakers, advocates and medical groups, with some calling it a step in the right direction, if only to start the conversation.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump announced new federal guidance on insurance coverage for IVF services, as well as his administration’s latest deal with a drug manufacturer under his “most favored nation” pricing policy.

The updated guidance from the Department of Labor, the Treasury Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would make opting in to fertility benefits similar to opting in for dental or vision benefits as part of an employer’s insurance plan.

EMD Serono, the manufacturer of commonly used infertility treatments like Gonal-F, announced it would be offering its “leading IVF therapies” at steep discounts. The company said in a press release that the agreement came with an exemption from Section 232 tariffs that the White House had threatened against pharmaceutical companies.

On the campaign trail, Trump — who called himself the “father of IVF” on Thursday — had vowed to make IVF available to everyone, either by the government funding it or by requiring insurers to cover it. The initiatives announced Thursday resemble neither of these plans.

Still, the announcement was well-received by some groups championing fertility services.

Moshe Margaretten, founder and president of........

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