Alabama Supreme Court's Frozen Embryo Ruling Explained: Impact On IVF, Parents, & Stem Cell Research

Forbes.com

Former USA Judo National Team Member and Tokyo Olympic Physician Christina Yannetsos will be leading a women’s health webinar on infertility and reproductive health on Tuesday, Jan. 23. 

Register Here

2023 Fall Event! Myth Busters!

Summer Event: Mind - Body - Spirit

One more chance to celebrate National Infertility Awareness Week!

Previous Events

Look back at the informational hour hearing directly from numerous grant organizations that provide financial support for those going through fertility treatment.

THE COLORADO FERTILITY ADVOCATES 2022 FALL EVENT "A NIGHT OF ART AND ART: MULTIDISCIPLINARY PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF FERTILITY CARE"

Colorado Fertility Advocates is a non-profit group supporting families, advocating for fertility friendly legislation in Colorado, setting statewide industry standards, education, and providing networking opportunities for fertility professionals and advocates. At our upcoming event we will be hosting a panel of medical and legal professionals to discuss the current state of affairs in Colorado regarding;

• How HB 22-1008 passed by Colorado Governor Polis on April 13 2022 affects persons seeking fertility treatment

• The Dobbs vs Jackson Decision, how the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision will impact access to reproductive healthcare

• Current legal protections in place in the State of Colorado and Federal Levels

• How YOU can volunteer and be involved in advocacy 

Colorado Building Families Act Implementation Delay

Colorado Fertility Advocates hosted a webinar on October 28, 2021 featuring State Representative Kerry Tipper, Colorado Department of Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway, and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association (“RESOLVE”) Chief Engagement Officer Betsy Campbell, and moderated by Crystal Wilson. The webinar focused on the latest news on the Colorado Building Families Act and answering attendees questions. Watch the webinar recording here for more information.

Not Going Into Effect January 1, 2022

The Colorado Building Families Act (the “Act”) will not be going into effect on January 1, 2022 as intended. Part of the Act involved language that prevented the law from going into effect if it would trigger an Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision that could require the state to defray the cost of an increase in premiums caused as a result of the Act. The Federal Government’s Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), under the prior Federal Government Administration, determined that defrayal could apply as a result of the Act in the individual and small markets. This determination was initially believed to only prevent that Act from going into effect in those markets, but to still allow the Act to go into effect for insurance plans under the large group (over 100 employees) market.

Recently, the Colorado Department of Insurance was informed by the Colorado Attorney General’s office that they did not believe the current language of the Act gave the Department of Insurance authority to implement the Act in the large group market. Essentially, the defrayal determination prevents the Act from going into effect at all, for any insurance market in Colorado.

The Fix.

Representative Kerry Tipper described in the webinar her intent to introduce a bill at the beginning of the 2022 legislative session to fix the issue with the defrayal determination preventing the Act from going into effect in the large group market -- a market unaffected by the potential ACA defrayal provision.  The Governor’s office and the Division of Insurance are supportive of this proposed fix. If that bill passes, the Act could apply to large group plans under Colorado law with July 1 renewals as soon as July 1, 2022, and as soon as January 1, 2023 for those plans that renew with the calendar year.

In the meantime, organizations like RESOLVE are working with the Federal Government Administration to reassess the HHS determination of defrayal related to the individual and small group markets. RESOLVE, and others, disagree with the assessment and believe the ACA defrayal provision inapplicable as related to the Act and the Act should go into effect for all insurance markets (individual, small group, and large group) under Colorado law.

Not Covered By The Act.

Even without the problematic defrayal provision, it is worth noting that the Act, if fully in effect, would only apply to insurance plans regulated under Colorado law. That excludes insurance plans where state law is preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) – including all self-funded plans under ERISA – as well as insurance plans regulated under the laws of another state, if, for example, the company is headquartered in another state. About one-third of Coloradans are insured by an insurance plan regulated by Colorado state law. About two-thirds of Coloradans have insurance plans that would not be subject to the Act, but are instead governed by ERISA or another state’s law or are on a public plan.

Commissioner Michael Conway shared contact information for the Colorado Department of Insurance for help clarifying whether any given insurance plan is subject to Colorado law and may be required to follow the Act once in effect. Coloradans can reach out to the Department of Insurance at 303-894-7490 / 800-930-3745 (outside the Denver Metro area) / DORA_Insurance@state.co.us

And, of course, an employer may voluntarily choose to provide fertility coverage, above any minimum requirements in law. RESOLVE provides resources for employees to open that conversation with their employers and advocate for fertility coverage. Also check out this CFA webinar on the topic.

Grant Panel

2020 Virtual Colorado 

Walk of Hope

September 8, 2020 - October 17, 2020

Bring the Virtual Walk of Hope to your neighborhood: from downtowns to small towns and every sidewalk in between.

Colorado Advocacy Day February 6, 2020

Infertility and Its Cost Obstacles January 15, 2020