This bill mandates the Department of Defense to provide comprehensive fertility treatment and counseling to active duty members, their spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates. These services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) with up to three oocyte retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers, must be furnished without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. It also establishes procedures for fertility preservation after injury or illness and offers cryopreservation and storage of reproductive genetic material for members deploying or in hazardous assignments, with costs covered until one year post-service. Members electing cryopreservation must complete advance directives regarding the use of their genetic material. For veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to furnish similar fertility treatment and counseling , including IVF, to enrolled veterans and their spouses, partners, or gestational surrogates, also without regard to personal characteristics. The VA must cover the costs of procuring donated reproductive genetic material when necessary for treatment. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the VA to provide adoption assistance to covered veterans, with a limitation amount tied to the cost of three adoptions. Both the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs are tasked with ensuring continuity of care and assisting beneficiaries in navigating these new services. They must coordinate by sharing best practices and facilitating referrals, particularly for members transitioning to veteran status. The bill also mandates the VA to facilitate collaborative reproduction and infertility research with the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services to address veterans' long-term reproductive health needs. Finally, both Secretaries are required to prescribe regulations to implement these provisions within two years of enactment.
This bill mandates the Department of Defense to provide comprehensive fertility treatment and counseling to active duty members, their spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates. These services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) with up to three oocyte retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers, must be furnished without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. It also establishes procedures for fertility preservation after injury or illness and offers cryopreservation and storage of reproductive genetic material for members deploying or in hazardous assignments, with costs covered until one year post-service. Members electing cryopreservation must complete advance directives regarding the use of their genetic material. For veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to furnish similar fertility treatment and counseling , including IVF, to enrolled veterans and their spouses, partners, or gestational surrogates, also without regard to personal characteristics. The VA must cover the costs of procuring donated reproductive genetic material when necessary for treatment. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the VA to provide adoption assistance to covered veterans, with a limitation amount tied to the cost of three adoptions. Both the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs are tasked with ensuring continuity of care and assisting beneficiaries in navigating these new services. They must coordinate by sharing best practices and facilitating referrals, particularly for members transitioning to veteran status. The bill also mandates the VA to facilitate collaborative reproduction and infertility research with the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services to address veterans' long-term reproductive health needs. Finally, both Secretaries are required to prescribe regulations to implement these provisions within two years of enactment.