(CNA/Tyler Arnold) — Senate Republicans blocked a bill on Tuesday that would have forced insurance companies to cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) and would have created an unrestricted right to the procedure — yet many in the party continue to support other efforts to expand IVF.
Under the proposal, employers — including religious employers — would have been forced to provide health insurance plans that cover IVF. The bill would have banned states from passing laws that limit the destruction of human embryonic life caused by the IVF industry. It would have also prevented states from limiting IVF to married couples.
The Senate fell several votes short of the three-fifths majority needed to end debate on the bill Tuesday afternoon after only two Republicans — Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins — joined Democrats on the procedural vote.
