The Access to Family Building Act is a crucial piece of legislation that aims to ensure nationwide access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) services, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), for all individuals and couples. This includes cancer survivors, same-sex couples, and those experiencing infertility or choosing single parenthood. However, the high costs and lack of insurance coverage often bar access to these vital services.
Recent court decisions, such as the one in Alabama that classified frozen embryos used in IVF as individuals subjected to state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, have further hindered access to ART services. These rulings not only halt IVF treatments but also pose a threat to reproductive healthcare choices for families.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined forces with a coalition of 21 attorneys general advocating for the passage of the Access to Family Building Act in Congress. 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 swiftly and address the disparities faced by patients seeking ART procedures.
On average, ART procedures like IVF cost around $20,000 per cycle with variations based on medical needs and cycle frequency. Inconsistencies exist in definitions and coverage terms across states that have enacted laws related to infertility insurance coverage. These barriers hinder patients from accessing vital ART services they need for family building or treatment purposes.
The Access to Family Building Act aims to address these issues by guaranteeing patients’ rights to ART without unreasonable limitations, encouraging insurance coverage for these services, and affirming patients’ autonomy over reproductive genetic materials. With Attorney General Brown’s support, this legislation has the potential to expand access to ART services for all families across the country.
The coalition argues that such decisions endanger reproductive health services and interfere with families’ reproductive healthcare choices. They advocate for federal protections such as the Access to Family Building Act which would safeguard ART services and patients’ rights.
In conclusion, expanding access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) is crucial for individuals and couples experiencing infertility or choosing single parenthood. The high costs and lack of insurance coverage often bar access