In recent years, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has become increasingly important for individuals and couples facing various challenges. Cancer survivors, same-sex couples, and those experiencing infertility or choosing single parenthood have all benefited from ART services. However, high costs and lack of insurance coverage continue to be barriers for many seeking these vital services.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general advocating for the passage of the Access to Family Building Act in Congress. The Act aims to ensure nationwide access to ART services such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). A recent Alabama Supreme Court decision classified frozen embryos used in IVF as individuals, subjecting them to the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. This ruling halted IVF services across the state, impacting ongoing treatments for numerous patients.
The coalition’s letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health urges Congress to act. Currently, nearly two percent of all U.S. births result from ART procedures. However, high costs and restrictive insurance policies hinder access for many patients. On average, ART procedures like IVF cost around $20,000 per cycle with variations based on medical needs and cycle frequency. While 21 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws related to infertility insurance coverage inconsistencies exist in definitions and coverage terms that are hindering accessibility for some families seeking these treatments.
The Access to Family Building Act seeks to address these disparities by guaranteeing patients’ rights to ART without unreasonable limitations, encouraging insurance coverage for these treatments regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and affirming patients’ autonomy over reproductive genetic materials.
In conclusion, Attorney General Brown’s support aligns with the coalition’s effort to expand ART access for all families by ensuring that they can make informed decisions about their reproductive health without interference from discriminatory laws or policies that prioritize political ideology over individual rights.