I'm very happy to report that U.S. veterans and their spouses are closer to having much-deserved coverage for fertility treatment. As I mentioned in August, a bill was introduced that would expand fertility coverage by the Veterans Administration. Now I can echo the applause by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine for the Senate's passing of the “Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012’’ which
“...would direct the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish fertility counseling and treatment, including the use of assisted reproductive technology, to severely wounded, ill or injured veterans whose infertility was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. Female veterans, the spouses of veterans and surrogates would be eligible.”
The Department of Veteran Affairs has up to 18 months to establish rules of the program, so resulting benefits will not be immediate. But this is a very positive step – next up, to encourage the House of Representatives to pass the bill for Presidential signature – toward facilitating full access to health care services for military personnel who have sacrificed so much for us all.
~ Dr. Sonja Kristiansen M.D.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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