File #: Res 0209-2004    Version: * Name: Congress to adopt the Family Building Act of 2003
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Health
On agenda: 3/10/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon Congress to adopt the Family Building Act of 2003, which would require coverage for the treatment of infertility by all group health plans or health insurance issuers that offer group health insurance coverage for obstetrical services.
Sponsors: David Yassky, Yvette D. Clarke, Vincent J. Gentile, Robert Jackson, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Michael C. Nelson, Christine C. Quinn, Philip Reed, David I. Weprin
Council Member Sponsors: 10

Res. No. 209

 

Resolution calling upon Congress to adopt the Family Building Act of 2003, which would require coverage for the treatment of infertility by all group health plans or health insurance issuers that offer group health insurance coverage for obstetrical services.

 

By Council Members Yassky, Clarke, Gentile, Jackson, Koppell, Liu, Nelson, Quinn, Reed and Weprin

 

                     Whereas, A fundamental part of the human experience is fulfilling the desire to reproduce; and

Whereas, Infertility is a disease affecting more than six million American women and men, about ten percent of those of reproductive age; and

                     Whereas, Improvements in infertility therapy, such as ovulation induction, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection, have had significant success in helping couples conceive; and

Whereas, The majority of group health plans do not provide coverage for infertility treatment; and

                     Whereas, These procedures are very expensive, costing individuals thousands of dollars per procedure, and totaling about three billion dollars nationwide, according to an October 2003 article written by Geoffrey Sher M.D. and Ghanima Maassarani M.D. for the International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination; and 

Whereas, Despite the great expense that individual couples without infertility health coverage incur to pay for these costly treatments, a 1999 article entitled “Financing Infertility” by Roxanne Nelson on WebMD estimates that adding in vitro fertilization treatments, which averages about $10,000 per cycle, to a standard healthcare benefits package would cost members less than $3 per year; and

                     Whereas, H.R. 3014, also known as the Family Building Act of 2003, a bill currently before the House of Representatives, would amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, and Title 10, United States Code, to require coverage for the treatment of infertility; and

Whereas, The legislation would specify that if a group health plan or a health insurance issuer offers group health insurance coverage for obstetrical services, such plan or issuer must provide coverage for infertility treatment; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon Congress to adopt the Family Building Act of 2003, which would require coverage for the treatment of infertility by all group health plans or health insurance issuers that offer group health insurance coverage for obstetrical services.

 

 

CR

LS #194

3/2/04