# Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2023

This bill expands VA health benefits to cover infertility treatments and fertility preservation services for eligible veterans. Essentially, it means the Department of Veterans Affairs will now pay for procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg freezing, sperm freezing, and other fertility-related medical care for veterans who need it.

Here's who this affects and what they get: Any veteran enrolled in VA health care who either has infertility problems or is at risk of becoming infertile (for example, due to upcoming cancer treatment) can receive these services. The bill also covers the veteran's partner—whether married or not—if they're involved in the fertility treatment. The VA will cover up to three successful IVF cycles that result in live births, or up to ten attempted IVF cycles total, whichever comes first. Veterans can also use donated eggs or sperm if needed. Additionally, the bill covers fertility preservation services like freezing eggs or sperm before medical treatments that might affect fertility.

The bill includes some practical protections and clarifications. Everyone involved in the treatment—the veteran, their partner, and any egg or sperm donor—must consent to the procedures. The VA will also cover travel expenses for partners receiving treatment, treating them the same as veterans for travel reimbursement purposes. The bill doesn't require the VA to provide maternity care beyond what it already covers, and it lets state laws determine what happens to frozen eggs or embryos if they're not used.

The VA has one year from when this bill becomes law to write the detailed rules for how these services will work. In the meantime, veterans already receiving fertility treatment through existing VA programs can choose to either continue under the old rules or switch to the new expanded coverage.

Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2023

Brownley, Julia

Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish infertility treatments, standard fertility preservation services, or both to a covered veteran or partner of a covered veteran. A covered veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and has infertility or is at risk of having infertility, as determined by a licensed physician. The VA may furnish up to three completed in vitro fertilization cycles that result in live birth, or 10 attempted cycles, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the VA may furnish in vitro fertilization treatment using donated gametes or embryos. The VA must receive consent to furnish an in vitro fertilization cycle from the covered veteran, the partner of a covered veteran, and the third-party donor (if applicable). For purposes of paying travel expenses for treatment or services to the partner of a covered veteran, the VA must deem the partner to be a veteran receiving treatment or care. The VA must prescribe regulations related to the provision of infertility treatments and standard fertility preservation services as required by this bill. Prior to the enactment of such regulations, the VA must ensure that (1) counseling and treatment furnished under existing authority is available to a veteran and the veteran's partner, regardless of whether they are married; and (2) treatment under existing authority may be furnished using donated gametes or embryos.