(Cupventi.com) – Senate Republicans blocked a Democrat-backed bill on in vitro fertilization (IVF) from advancing on Tuesday. The bill, which had already failed in the upper chamber, aimed to require insurance companies to cover the costs of IVF treatment. Despite efforts by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to bring it to a vote, the bill fell short of the 60 votes needed in a procedural motion, with the final tally at 51 to 44.
Schumer emphasized the significance of this bill, referencing the national debate on reproductive rights. He pointed out that Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner for president, had voiced his support for expanding access to IVF, even promising to mandate insurance coverage for the procedure if re-elected. Schumer said, “We are going to give our Republican colleagues another chance to show the American people where they stand.” He made the decision to push the bill forward after Trump’s recent remarks at a Michigan event where the former president stated that he would ensure insurance companies covered IVF to promote family growth.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., sought to mandate fertility treatment coverage for any health plan that offers obstetrical services. Since obstetrical coverage is a common inclusion in insurance plans, this bill would have had a wide-reaching effect. However, Senate Republicans have largely opposed the measure. In June, nearly all Senate Republicans voted against the bill during a crucial procedural vote, again preventing it from moving forward.
In response to the Democratic push, Republican Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Katie Britt of Alabama introduced their own version of an IVF bill later in the summer. Their measure aimed to protect access to IVF while allowing for what they called “commonsense regulation.” However, this bill also faced opposition, with Cruz’s request for a unanimous vote on it being denied by Democrats. Cruz reiterated his commitment to the issue, expressing frustration at the lack of progress, saying, “Every Republican is for IVF, but the question of whether insurance should cover it needs further discussion.”
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced a separate IVF-related bill earlier in the summer. His proposal, designed to assist families in paying for IVF and other fertility treatments, sought to increase Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits and allow HSAs to be used for IVF-related expenses. This too was blocked from advancing when Scott sought unanimous consent for a vote.
The debate over IVF is not just about the procedure itself but about how it should be paid for. Many Republicans, including Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., have expressed concerns about mandating private insurance companies to cover the procedure. Thune noted that while Republicans largely support IVF, there are reservations about imposing additional mandates on insurers, stating, “There are lots of mandates that are imposed on insurance companies, which raise rates. The question of whether or not insurance ought to cover it is another issue that we need to talk about.”
As the debate over IVF coverage continues, the bill’s future remains uncertain. While Trump and other Republicans have voiced support for expanding access, there remains a clear divide between the parties on how to move forward with legislation.