Sec. 2. Findings
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/bill/116/hr/2803/ih/section-2·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress finds as follows: Infertility is a medical disease recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the American Medical Association that affects men and women equally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 8 couples have difficulty getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. Infertility affects a broad spectrum of prospective parents. No matter what race, religion, sexual orientation, or economic status one is, infertility does not discriminate.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 percent of women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. Similarly, 9 percent of men in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44 experience infertility. Infertility disproportionately affects individuals with particular health complications. For cancer patients and others who must undergo treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery that are likely to harm the reproductive system and organs, fertility preservation becomes necessary.
Leading causes of infertility include chronic conditions and diseases of the endocrine or metabolic systems, such as primary ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, thyroid disorders, menstrual cycle defects, autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, testicular disorders, and urological health issues. Other causes include structural problems or blockages within the reproductive system, exposure to infectious diseases, occupational or environmental hazards, or genetic influences.
Recent improvements in therapy and cryopreservation make pregnancy possible for more people than in past years. Like all other diseases, infertility and its treatments should be covered by health insurance. A 2017 national survey of employer-sponsored health plans found that 44 percent of employers with at least 500 employees did not cover infertility services, and 25 percent of companies with 20,000 or more employees did not cover infertility services. Coverage for infertility services under State Medicaid programs is limited.
The Medicaid programs of only 5 States provide diagnostic testing for women and men in all of their program eligibility pathways; the Medicaid program of only one State provides coverage for certain medications for women experiencing infertility; and no State Medicaid programs cover intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. States that do not require private insurance coverage of assisted reproductive technology have higher rates of multiple births. The ability to have a family should not be denied to anyone on account of a lack of insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment.