Republicans block bill to ensure IVF access, despite Trump's pledges

Republican senators in the USA have voted against a bill which aimed to to allow greater access to IVF treatment across the country.

The Right to IVF Act would guarantee federal protections and insurance coverage for fertility treatments including IVF. The proposed legislation would establish a nationwide right for access to IVF, expand fertility treatment coverage for veterans, and increase affordability for fertility care. Although a majority of 51 senators voted to pass the bill, this was short of the 60 votes required.

All but two Republican senators present voted against the bill, despite Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump claiming to be a 'leader' on IVF. Trump said at a town hall meeting in August, 'I've been looking at it, and what we're going to do is for people that are using IVF, which is fertilisation … the government is going to pay for it, or we're going to get, we'll mandate your insurance company to pay for it, which is going to be great. We're going to do that.' (see BioNews 1254).

This is the second time the Democrats have brought the Right to IVF Act to the Senate floor, after Republicans previously blocked the bill in June (see BioNews 1243). In the same week, Democrat senators blocked the Republicans' alternative IVF Protection Act, arguing it did not go far enough to protect IVF patients.

The push for more IVF protection began earlier this year, after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law (see BioNews 1228). This ruling followed the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade, allowing abortion legislation to be created at State level. Emilia Rowland, national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee, said, 'Senate Republicans put politics first and families last again today by blocking the Right to IVF Act for the second time since June,' the Guardian newspaper reported.

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz said the party supported IVF treatment but accused the Democrats of pushing a partisan 'radical, anti-religious liberty bill' to further their political agenda. Mr Trump's running mate, Senator JD Vance, voted against the bill in June, but was not present for the most recent vote. Campaigning in Wisconsin, Mr Vance said, 'I would protect people's access to fertility treatments... I'd also like to protect Christian hospitals' right to conduct their hospitals as they see fit,' the New York Times newspaper reported.

The issue of IVF access continues to be divisive in the run up to the US presidential election. Ms Rowland warned that a victory for Mr Trump would jeopardise access to fertility treatment, saying of voters 'Between now and November, they will turn out against Republicans from the top to bottom of the ballot,' the Guardian newspaper reported.