PRINTER'S NO. 2201
No. 232 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, THOMAS, WOJNAROSKI, LEDERER, READSHAW,
CAPPABIANCA, MARKOSEK, PESCI, SANTONI, McNAUGHTON, DONATUCCI,
DiGIROLAMO, SHANER, PISTELLA AND BROWNE, SEPTEMBER 23, 1997
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 23, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the week of September 21 through 27, 1997, as
2 "National Infertility Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The National Center for Health Statistics estimates
4 that 4.5 million couples experience infertility each year, and
5 the American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that
6 5.3 million women are affected; and
7 WHEREAS, Each year less than 2 million of the couples
8 experiencing problems with infertility seek advice or assistance
9 from the medical community; and
10 WHEREAS, Couples who were successful in efforts to conceive
11 in the past are also vulnerable to problems with infertility;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, Feelings of embarrassment and anxiety as well as
14 concerns for costs are the primary reasons that prevent many men
15 and women from considering the various treatment services
16 available; and
17 WHEREAS, Studies show that almost 90% of all infertility
1 cases have a specific cause and that with appropriate diagnosis
2 and treatment over half of the infertile couples could conceive
3 their own children and that others can benefit from other
4 reproductive services; and
5 WHEREAS, Technology has brought many advances to the field of
6 reproductive services and infertility treatment; and
7 WHEREAS, Some individuals who experience infertility are
8 frustrated when any medical procedures needed for accurate
9 diagnosis and treatment are not covered by their insurance
10 plans; and
11 WHEREAS, Treatments of the causes of infertility may vary
12 from the simple and uncomplicated to the complex treatments
13 involved in assisted reproductive technologies, which means that
14 the total costs and success rates of these treatments vary and
15 are not necessarily related to how advanced the procedure may
16 be; and
17 WHEREAS, The American Society of Reproductive Medicine
18 considers assisted reproductive technologies eligible for
19 coverage because they are nonexperimental; and
20 WHEREAS, Concerns about insurance costs rising due to an
21 increase of maternity cases are unfounded because the rate of
22 live births per cycle for invitro fertilization is 15.2%, which
23 only approaches the conception rate of 20% to 25% per cycle for
24 a normal, healthy couple of reproductive age, and the incidence
25 of multiple births is low, with less than 10% twins and less
26 than 1% triplets or more; and
27 WHEREAS, In a recent article in Fortune Magazine, current
28 coverage for infertility was estimated at 34% of 1,695 large
29 private and public companies with indemnity insurance offering
30 some form of coverage for the treatment of infertility; and
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1 WHEREAS, Coverage is provided based on the view that
2 infertility is a catastrophic event that affects worker
3 productivity and is consistent with corporate culture that
4 values the mental and physical health of employees; and
5 WHEREAS, Twelve states already require coverage for fertility
6 treatments in varying degrees; and
7 WHEREAS, Procreational autonomy is encompassed in a
8 fundamental right to privacy as guaranteed by the Constitution
9 of the United States; thus, desiring couples should be assisted
10 rather than hindered or precluded from procreating due to
11 financial constraints; and
12 WHEREAS, Efforts continue at the Federal and State level to
13 seek greater support for infertility research and funding as
14 well as expanded insurance coverage for couples seeking
15 treatment; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
17 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognize the week of September 21
18 through 27, 1997, as "National Infertility Awareness Week" in
19 Pennsylvania and urge all citizens to recognize the importance
20 of infertility services and promote public understanding of an
21 all-too-common problem affecting millions of couples each year.
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