#Veterans #Healthcare: #Fertility treatments proposed for spouses of severely wounded veterans

The report suggested that the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs should establish systems to “provide life-long care by medical specialists in this area. Related problems of infertility also require needed attention.”

Currently, the VA has a ban on providing in-vitro fertilization services.  Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, recently introduced legislation that would end the VA’s ban. Murray’s bill, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2012, also provides for child-care at VA centers for women in need of counseling and seeks to improve outreach to women veterans.

IVF treatments can cost between $10,000 and $15,000 per treatment. Congress has generally restricted the eligibility of spouses to receive VA health care benefits. At a recent Senate hearing, Murray said her bill would provide fertility treatment for spouses in specific cases where the veteran’s injury prevents the couple from becoming pregnant naturally.

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