have passed legislation mandating fertility coverage in the past five years, while others have had mandates in place for decades, Marshall said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMarshall said most of her clinic\u2019s patients do not need in vitro fertilization (IVF), a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility, prevent genetic problems, and assist with the conception of a child.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\u201cBut many delay seeing a doctor because they don\u2019t have fertility coverage,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd that delay results in a greater likelihood that they will need more invasive treatments. When IVF is needed, outcomes are better for insured patients because they are more likely to choose a single embryo transfer. This lowers the number of twins and triplets, which results in huge savings for insurance carriers, as well as healthier mothers and babies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nWithout a state mandate in place, a patient\u2019s ability to build a family depends on their ability to pay for services, Marshall said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOn a daily basis, I witness this inequality,\u201d she said. \u201cTeachers and nurses can\u2019t have children because they don\u2019t have fertility coverage. I\u2019ve waited 30 years for a bill like this to help my patients.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nJennifer Ziegler, a lobbyist for the Association of Washington Healthcare Plans, testified in opposition to SB 5204.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOur opposition to this bill is based on our request for you to not evaluate any individual proposal in isolation, but really look at them together to determine the cumulative impact,\u201d Ziegler said.<\/span><\/p>\nThe 2022 supplemental operating budget included a provision that required the insurance commissioner, in consultation with the Health Care Authority, to complete an analysis of the cost to implement a fertility treatment benefit. That report is due to lawmakers on June 30th.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\u201cThe only other thing we would ask, on this particular piece of legislation, is that you all did pass a budget last year that required additional analysis related to this process, in particular potential premium impacts,\u201d Ziegler said. \u201cThat analysis is due back to you on June 30th. So we\u2019d ask you to wait for that complete analysis from the insurance commissioner\u2019s office before making a statutory decision.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nA total of 641 people signed into the meeting to record their stance on the issue without testifying, with 606 supporting the bill and 35 opposing it. No action was taken on the bill, and it remains in committee.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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