The New York City Council, has introduced a Package of Bills, that would Protect New Yorkers’ access to: Abortion Services; Expand access to Fertility Treatments such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and create an Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health, to connect underserved People to Affordable Care.
The council, which is for the first time, a Woman-Majority Legislative body, introduced the Package last week, during a Hearing on Maternal Health. It is part of a push for New York to further Protect Abortion Rights and cover Fertility Treatments, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade.
Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez (D-13th District), said the Council began drafting some of the Bills in May, when a Draft of the Supreme Court’s Decision was Leaked. “Our lived experiences add our perspective in a way that hasn’t been done before, and now the urgency is here. New York is going to be the state for choice. If you’re going to have an abortion, you can have it at a site that is safe and protected.”, Velazquez said.
One Bill, (I)ntroduction 508, would Increase People’s access to IVF and establish a Family-building Benefit for City Employees, which would cover some or all of the IVF Treatment regardless of whether a Patient has been diagnosed with Infertility. IVF has the potential to be impacted by the Supreme Court’s Decision because it involves Embryos, which could be considered People, Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-14th District), a Bill Sponsor said.
The 2020 State Law required large group Insurance Policies, including from Providers that cover City Employees, to cover Three rounds of IVF, but only for Patients who had been diagnosed with Infertility. Schulman said (I)ntroduction 508 would close the Gap in State Law which meant that LGBTQ+ People and anyone Not diagnosed with Infertility still couldn’t get IVF Vovered. (I)ntroduction 508 would “right the wrong of the discrimination against city employees,” Schulman said. “IVF costs an average of $17,000 for one round. [The bill] allows opportunities to plan families more affordably and equitably.”
The Bill was met with Controversy. At the Hearing, Daniel Pollack, First Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Labor Relations, testified the Office has Reservations about (I)ntroduction 508, arguing that the City already spends $11 billion per year on Health Benefits for Employees and Dependents. Pollack added that the Programs currently in place to cover Infertility, including Partnering with Fertility Clinics to help Families navigate their Options and covering Prescription Drugs, Injectables, and Egg Preservation, are sufficient. “We currently spend over $100 million per year on fertility benefits for city employees,” Pollack said. He added that the Office will Negotiate the Benefits with Municipal Unions as is required by Law.
“The Adams administration believes all city employees deserve high-quality, affordable and equitable health care,” Mayoral Spokesman Jonah Allon said. “We are reviewing the bill.”
Council Member Marjorie Velázquez (D-13th District), who has been through IVF Treatment and said she can attest to its High Costs, responded to Pollack’s statements. Current programs “are not enough,” she said. “Our health should not be used as a bargaining tool. It will just keep creating more problems.”
The Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health, if codified within the Department of Health through (I)ntroduction 490, would connect People with: Affordable, Accessible Abortion, and Health Care options; Analyze Disparities, and Access to Reproductive services among different Communities; and help Out-of-State People access Care.
The package also includes Resolution 201-2022, sponsored by Hospitals Committee Chair Mercedes Narcisse (D-46th District). It calls on the State to establish Full Insurance coverage for Fertility Treatments. Narcisse noted that cost is the biggest barrier for Patients seeking Treatment for family-building.
If (I)ntroduction 478 passes, the Health Department would be required to run a Campaign to increase Awareness of how Doulas can help during Birth. A Doula is a Trained companion who is Not a Healthcare Professional and who supports another Person through a significant health-related experience, such as Childbirth, Miscarriage, Induced Abortion, or Stillbirth.
It also would create a Pilot program to Train more Doulas to provide Free Services across the City. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez (D-34th District), said at the Hearing that using Doulas Leads to fewer: Cesarean Sections, Healthier Birth Weights, Instances of Postpartum Depression, and increased Breastfeeding. The City already has Doula programs in place, but One Program had a modest goal of reaching 500 People by the End of June. There are 17,000 Births per month in the City, Gutiérrez said.
Several Bills focus on Data Collection and Distribution. (I)ntroduction 86 would require the Department of Health to Educate Patients and Providers on Patients’ Rights at Birth.
(I)ntroduction 409 would require the Department to Post an Annual Summary on Maternal Mortality Statistics.
(I)ntroduction 482 requires the Department to Report on Patients experiencing Polycystic Ovarian syndrome and other Reproductive Health issues. The Department said it has “operational concerns” with the Bill, as it Lacks a Feasible Data Collection mechanism.
Velázquez stressed that New Yorkers are in dire need of Coverage for Fertility Treatments as well as Abortion Protection. “It’s not about me. If I’m going through this, how much harder is it for families in my district? Everything has been piecemeal and our families deserve better,” she said. The Package will be Voted on July 14th, she said.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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