HB1142
To Create The Reproductive Empowerment And Support Through Optimal Restoration (restore) Act.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, titled the "Reproductive Empowerment and Support Through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act," aims to enhance women's reproductive health and fertility options in Arkansas. It defines various terms related to reproductive medicine, including "assisted reproductive technology," "fertility awareness-based methods," and "restorative reproductive medicine." The act prohibits entities receiving state or local government assistance from discriminating against healthcare providers who do not participate in assisted reproductive technology due to religious or moral convictions. It mandates that Title X-funded facilities incorporate fertility awareness-based methods into their family planning and reproductive health services and requires the Department of Health to provide guidance and training for this integration. Furthermore, the bill mandates that accident and health insurance companies in Arkansas cover both in vitro fertilization (IVF) and restorative reproductive medicine. The Insurance Commissioner will establish coverage levels and facilities must meet certain certification standards, including success rates. Existing health education materials will be updated to include information on restorative reproductive medicine.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be women in Arkansas seeking to understand and improve their reproductive health and fertility. This includes those who may be struggling with infertility, recurrent miscarriages, or reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome. Patients who prefer or wish to utilize fertility awareness-based methods and restorative reproductive medicine will have these options integrated into services and covered by insurance. Healthcare providers who conscientiously object to participating in assisted reproductive technologies will be protected from discrimination. Insurance companies will benefit from a clearer framework for offering IVF and restorative reproductive medicine coverage, potentially expanding their market.
Who Might Suffer?
Accident and health insurance companies operating in Arkansas would be directly impacted by the mandate to cover in vitro fertilization and restorative reproductive medicine, potentially leading to increased costs for premiums or adjustments in their benefit structures. Facilities offering these reproductive health services, particularly IVF, would need to ensure compliance with new certification and success rate guidelines, which could pose challenges for some. Healthcare providers who do not wish to perform or refer for assisted reproductive technology will be protected from discrimination by state or local aid recipients, but the scope of this protection might be tested in practice. Public health programs receiving Title X funding will need to allocate resources and staff time to incorporate fertility awareness-based methods, which could divert funds or attention from other services if not managed effectively.