HR220-119

What This Bill Does

The Veterans Infertility Treatment Act creates a permanent VA infertility treatment authority. At the election of a covered individual, VA must provide infertility treatments, assisted reproductive technology, standard fertility preservation services, or both. IVF is capped at three completed cycles that result in live birth or 10 attempted cycles, whichever comes first, and may use donated gametes or embryos. VA must obtain consent from the covered individual, the covered veteran when the individual is a partner, and any third-party donor. State law controls the legal status, custody, future use, donation, disposition, or destruction of gametes and embryos. For partner travel expenses, VA treats the partner as a veteran receiving care. Covered veterans include enrolled veterans with infertility or at risk of infertility because of medical history, age, diagnostic testing, planned medication, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other treatment. VA must issue regulations within one year and, beginning 180 days after enactment until regulations issue, ensure existing fertility authority covers unmarried partners and donated gametes or embryos.

Who Benefits and How

Covered veterans with infertility benefit from required VA access to infertility treatment, assisted reproductive technology, and fertility preservation. Partners selected by covered veterans benefit because VA can furnish treatment and pay travel expenses as if the partner were receiving VA care. Veterans at risk of infertility benefit from fertility preservation before medication, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other treatment. LGBTQ veterans and unmarried partners benefit because interim authority may be used without regard to whether the partner and veteran are married.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The VA Secretary must issue regulations within one year and administer consent, cycle limits, donated gamete, embryo, travel, and state-law rules. VA fertility clinics must deliver infertility treatment, assisted reproductive technology, and fertility preservation under the new eligibility rules. Third-party donors must provide consent before VA furnishes donated gamete or embryo treatment. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of expanded VA fertility treatment and partner travel payments.

Key Provisions

• Requires VA to furnish infertility treatment, assisted reproductive technology, and standard fertility preservation services.
• Limits IVF to three completed live-birth cycles or 10 attempted cycles, whichever occurs first.
• Allows donated gametes or embryos with required consent from covered individuals, veterans, and donors.
• Treats partners as veterans for travel-expense payment when they receive treatment under the section.
• Requires regulations within one year and interim access beginning 180 days after enactment.