October 13, 2008

The fees on the website are accurate . . . but it is true . . . you do have to add:

$3000 if you want an open adoption

and on top of that, $4000 if you want a semi-open adoption where you communicate through Bethany. If you just get an email account to exchange info, say, gmail, msn, yahoo, hotmail . . . then it doesn't cost the additional 4000. But you still would pay the $3000. That 3000 covers Bethany negotiating and executing the open adoption agreement between all parties.

I hope this helps! :D

Oh, if it should fail, the part where you pay the hospital? It's in that breakdown of who gets what payments, that is I believe the part you pay again if it fails and you need to return for a 2nd or 3rd transfer.

Something else you asked, you suggested it was odd thinking you'd be responsible for embryos not created by you. That's no different than domestic infant adoption ;)

If you're referring to having "remaining embryos" after you do say 1 transfer . . . unless you "reserve" them, they go back to the original placing parents. I believe you have 1 year, either after transfer or birth (can't remember, but they do let you know when) to let them know you desire to reserve the grouping for possible genetic siblings.


This is the part that is repeated if you have to do a 2nd or 3rd cycle:

Hospital/Facility Fees
1. Embryology Laboratory Fee 550.00
2. Facility Fee 700.00
3. Assisted Hatching 350.00
TOTAL 1600.00


Oh! That doesn't mean it's the for a 2nd or 3rd child from the group of embryos though! It's just if it doesn't work the first time . . . etc.

Oh, and I don't remember what they said happens with the open adoption fees for 2nd or 3rd transfers or additional matches or refunds. You'd have to ask them to send you that paperwork. They do have it that they can email it to you.

Oh, lemmie see if I can find it . . .

[quote]Openness Planning and Services
These services are applicable to all couples choosing to pursue an open donation agreement plan.

Clinical services and communication exchange support are services provided from donor match through pregnancy, birth and one year post birth. These services will also be provided in support of up to three transfer attempts with the same donor embryos, involving up to two open donors matched during the same cycles of transfer.
• Cost: $3000 *
• Payment: Prior to completion of the open donation agreement, Bethany Christian Services will send an invoice for payment as appropriate.
* In the event that a couple completes up to three embryo transfers with the same donor embryos, with NO resulting birth, $500 will be refunded upon service closure.

Communication Exchange Facilitation Services
These services are an elective option for couples who chose an openness plan AND prefer to utilize a professional to facilitate exchanges of information on their behalf.

These services extend counseling support and communication exchange between donor and adoptive couples through the child’s 6th birthday, at which time the couples may elect to extend these services, or transition into a plan that allows them to exchange information more directly. Bethany Christian Services will support couples in their individual plans and prepare, support and educate both donor and adoptive couples to a position of more direct exchanges of communication, as may be comfortable.
• Cost: $4,000 * (an elective service for couples choosing to pursue an open donation plan)
• Payment: Upon selection of this elective service, which will be determined during the open donation agreement process, Bethany will send an invoice for service payment prior to finalization of the open donation agreement.
* In the event that birth does not occur following up to three embryo transfer attempts, this service fee will be refunded in full.
[/quote]



No, the 3000 is not including the homestudy. But there was an estimate for the homestudy in the original fees.

This is the other 1/2 of that document, which helps explain homestudies:

[quote]CLINICAL SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Home Study:
A current home study assessment from a licensed child placing agency is required by the National Embryo Donation Center.
You may choose to use Bethany Christian Services or an agency of your choice to complete the study.
Typically, fees for adoptive home study assessments vary by geographic region and organizational fee structure.
Payment for the home study should be rendered directly to the organization that completes it.

Home Study Referral, Support and Review:
Bethany Christian Services, on behalf of the National Embryo Donation Center, provides support and assistance to all couples related to the home study assessment process. Bethany will assist families in seeking and finding a licensed child placing agency willing to provide a home study assessment for a couple who wishes to adopt an embryo.

Bethany is able to provide agency referrals for adopting couples, both within and outside of their organizational structure.

Further, Bethany will provide support and service to the adoption agency completing the home study assessment. Because embryo adoption is a very new and emerging area, Bethany provides education, assistance and support to agencies that are unfamiliar with the completion of embryo adoption assessments.

Once the home study has been completed, it is the National Embryo Donation Center’s policy that each study be forwarded to, reviewed and assessed by Bethany prior to acceptance into their Embryo Donation and Adoption program.

Once an approved home study has been completed, you should request to sign a release authorizing the completing agency to submit the Adoption Home Study to:

Embryo Services – 2nd floor
Bethany Christian Services
901 Eastern Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Upon receipt, a clinician from Bethany’s Embryo Services Department will review and assess the home study for completeness and compliance with the standards of the National Embryo Donation Center. Following review, approved home studies will be sent to the NEDC.

Open Donation and Planning Services
For couples who are interested in communication exchange with the embryo donors, the NEDC mandates that a signed Open Donation Agreement Contract be facilitated and signed by each party.
This agreement provides definition regarding the type and frequency of communication exchange that will take place. As the facilitator of these agreements, Bethany will provide counseling, education and support to both the donors and the adoptive couples who make a plan for openness. Bethany will provide both individual counseling and assessment, and negotiation of the terms of the agreement. Bethany will complete the legal documentation for the agreement and work with all parties through the notarization and signature process. Bethany will also provide support and services to couples as they begin to share information back and forth through this process.

Communication Exchange Facilitation Services
For couples who desire some type of openness within their adoption plan, but prefer to have the exchange of information be handled by a professional, Bethany offers communication exchange facilitation services. These services allow a couple to exchange information at a predetermined level of frequency and offer the support that some families prefer of allowing these communications to occur anonymously and under the direction of an embryo adoption professional.

SERVICE FEES
Adoptive Home Study Fee
• Cost: varies by geographic region/organizational fee structure
• Payment: Payment should be rendered directly to the organization that completes the home study assessment

Home Study Referral, Support and Review Fee
• Cost: $300 if study is authored by an agency outside of Bethany Christian Services; this fee is waived for couples completing a home study through Bethany Christian Services
• Payment: Upon receipt of the home study assessment, Bethany Christian Services will send an invoice for payment, as appropriate
[/quote]


OOOPS!!! Boo boo on my part . . . I forgot 1/2 the fees for repeating!

These are the fees that could be repeated:

Monitoring/Embryo Transfer Fees
1. Embryo Transfer 650.00
2. Monitoring Fee 250.00
3. Ultra Sounds 175.00
Total 1075.00

Hospital/Facility Fees
1. Embryology Laboratory Fee 550.00
2. Facility Fee 700.00
3. Assisted Hatching 350.00
TOTAL 1600.00