Dr. Francisco Arredondo, M.D., Pozitivf, Tackles the Access Crisis Head-On. How one physician's approach is transforming fertility care economics

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BY INSIDE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Access Gap Persists: 90% of IVF-Eligible Patients Don’t Receive Treatment

IVF remains financially challenging for many Americans. Despite over 40 years of scientific advancement, the gap between clinical innovation and patient access has barely moved. Roughly 10% of those who need IVF in the U.S. are able to receive it.

The national average for a single IVF cycle can reach $30,000, and the cost of fertility medications has climbed 84% since 2014. Mandated coverage doesn’t eliminate the reality that those accessing care are typically financially capable. “We [specialists] focus on developing new technology, but it’s only affordable to the top tier of the economic pyramid,” said Dr. Francisco Arredondo, M.D., Pozitivf Fertility.

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Structural Inequity, Not Medical Need, Drives Patient Dropout

Healthcare disparities in reproductive medicine reflect broader systemic issues. Many patients abandon or never begin IVF treatment—not because of clinical futility, but because of financial impossibility. “Having a healthy child should not cost a heart attack to your wallet,” said Arredondo.

Even well-intentioned industry efforts—such as fertility benefit managers or insurance coverage—often misdiagnose the problem. “They’re addressing how to pay for IVF, not how to make it affordable,” he explained. These approaches offer financial assistance without altering the underlying cost structure.

Redefining who IVF is for

Dr. Arredondo’s mission at Pozitivf is simple: Make IVF accessible for everyone – no matter their background or financial situation. His clinic deliberately serves patients who traditional fertility centers have turned away. Pozitivf is built around reaching those who were previously considered "non-consumers" - people who couldn't afford conventional IVF pricing. Rather than focusing solely on technological breakthroughs, Dr. Arredondo believes true progress is measured in fairness and access. He explains that “[Pozitivf] decided that we don’t need as much progress. What we need is to be fair to the people who do not have access.” By rethinking the economics of care, Pozitivf is dismantling the affordability barrier and welcoming patients who once thought IVF was out of reach, proving that advanced fertility care can belong to anyone.

Misaligned Incentives: Progress Outpaces Equity

The fertility industry continues to chase innovation—expensive equipment, new therapies, expanded lab capabilities - but Arredondo states that this progress isn’t reaching the majority of patients. “We’ve tripled nature’s pregnancy rate, and we’re still acting like we need more progress before access can be fair.”

The focus on technological advancement over operational accessibility has left a wide swath of patients behind. “What is the industry waiting for? A 100% pregnancy rate before everyone gets care?” he added.

Reframing the Question: From “How to Pay” to “How to Lower the Cost”

Pozitivf’s model was built on a different starting point: affordability as a design principle. “The traditional system asks how to pay for IVF. We ask how to make it affordable in the first place,” Arredondo said.

By removing low-value interventions, streamlining care delivery, and applying technology purposefully, Pozitivf reports it has reduced costs by roughly 50% without compromising safety or success rates. Arredondo believes this structural shift is long overdue. “We decided that we don’t need more progress - we need fairness.” Arredondo went on to highlight Samsung’s shared values of accessibility and progress, noting that Pozitivf and Samsung are “very well-aligned. We are very similar in the way of utilizing technology for the correct progress.”

IVF as Public Health: Equity, ROI, and National Sustainability

Arredondo frames accessible IVF as more than a moral obligation - it’s also a financial and geopolitical imperative. He cites sickle cell disease prevention as an example, estimating that applying IVF for genetic screening could save $3.6 billion in future healthcare costs at a fraction of the investment.

With U.S fertility rates at 1.6, well below the replacement level of 2.1 (2.1 babies per female) - he warms of long-term consequences. “The future challenge is... depopulation,” he said.

Together, Pozitivf and Samsung are demonstrating how aligned missions—fair access and purposeful technology—can reset the economics of IVF, making care more attainable for millions of families.