FSAs and Stem Cell Procedures - Is it reimburseable?

[Guest epochas]

An employee has asked us if the procedure to harvest stem cells would be reimburseable through his medical reimbursement account? The employee's wife is pregnant, and they are looking into the procedure as an option to use the cells if anything should be wrong with their child after it is born.

Does anyone have any information about stem cell procedures and how they apply back to reimbursement accounts? The subject matter is so new that we're having a hard time scaring up information on it.

Any information that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.

[SLuskin]

In a change from a previous response that I made to a similar question, there was a letter to the editor in today's Employee Benefits Weekly saying that absent the strong possibility that the blood would be needed (either for a sibling already in need or else known family medical problems), that this would not be a reimbursable expense. I had read somewhere before that it was, but apparently it is one of those that the answer is "it depends".

[Guest epochas]

Thanks to SLuskin for the valuable insight on this subject!

Another employee we support has asked if "cryo-preservation" might be a procedure that is eligible for reimbursement. The procedure is part of a fertility program that is not covered by the employee's medical insurance. Can anyone shed some light for me as to whether or not this procedure is eligible for reimbursement through a spending account?

Again, any information that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.