Senate passes Chairwoman Cano’s bill requiring insurance coverage for diagnosing and treating infertility
STATE HOUSE – The Senate passed legislation (2023-S 0107) sponsored by Chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) which would mandate all insurance contracts, plans or policies provide insurance coverage for the expense of diagnosing and treating infertility.
Chairwoman Cano introduced the bill last session and it was passed by the Senate.
“Experiencing infertility is a devastating and stressful time for any individual or couple who wishes to start or expand their family. This bill will relieve some of that stress by ensuring that needed treatments are covered by insurance for prospective parents experiencing infertility issues, hopefully then leading to the birth of a healthy baby and a lifetime of wonderful experiences and memories,” said Senator Cano.
The bill requires coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility for women between the ages of 25 and 42 years, including preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF). PGD is defined as a technique used in conjunction with IVF to test embryos for specific genetic disorders prior to their transfer to the uterus and infertility is defined in the bill as the condition of an otherwise presumably healthy individual who is unable to conceive or sustain a pregnancy during a period of one year.
“Last session, when advocating for this bill, I detailed my own history of infertility and I was not only touched by the outpouring of support, but I was also truly inspired by the women and families who came forward to share their own stories of the struggles and challenges that infertility caused to themselves and their families. Too often, this topic is still hidden from discussion, but we cannot overcome the barriers that are still present for too many individuals who need IVF treatments without addressing this painful issue. I thank everyone who had the courage to share their own stories about infertility this session and last. Without your powerful and touching testimony, this bill would not be successful,” concluded Chairwoman Cano.
The bill now heads to the House for consideration where Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket) has introduced the legislation (2023-H 5351).
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