Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 14, 1994 TAG: 9402140057
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DALE EISMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
By voice vote, the delegates cleared for passage today a bill that would require health insurers to offer the infertility coverage in individual and group policies.
In addition to in vitro fertilization, in which an egg is surgically removed, fertilized in the laboratory and then implanted in the uterus, coverage would have to be offered for artificial insemination and intrafallopian tube transfer. In the latter procedure, eggs are harvested from a woman's ovary and then implanted, along with sperm, in the fallopian tubes, where fertilization actually takes place.
The bill's sponsor, Del. Jerrauld Jones, D-Norfolk, wanted to require in vitro coverage in every policy. In a compromise with the insurance industry, he agreed that the coverage simply could be offered, leaving it to employers and employees to decide whether they want to bear the extra premiums.
In vitro treatments currently cost $1,500 to $8,000 for each implantation of a fertilized egg. Under Jones' bill, coverage would not have to be offered to anyone who already had failed in three attempts to have a baby using the test tube technique or to couples who already have a child conceived in vitro.
The required offer of coverage also would apply only to married couples.
The House advanced Jones' bill after defeating attempts by Del. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, to exempt from coverage any procedures that use eggs harvested from aborted fetuses. Marshall also sought to block required coverage of any pregnancy for "post-menopausal" women.
The House debated and/or voted Sunday afternoon on more than 200 bills in an attempt to meet a Tuesday deadline for completion of work on bills introduced by its own members. Beginning Wednesday, delegates will consider only bills that already have passed the Senate and senators will deal only with bills that have passed the House.
In other action, the delegates:
Passed or advanced for final consideration several bills to tighten conflict-of-interest laws. One bill given final approval would bar service by more than two legislators on the board of any corporation regulated by the state; another would bar lobbying by former state officials and legislators for one year after they leave office; a third would bar legislators, the governor and other top officials from accepting honoraria for making speeches or writing articles related to their official duties.
Passed, 96-1, a bill to extend civil service protections to several hundred high-ranking state employees, including many whose resignations were sought in December by incoming Gov. George Allen. After a public spat with then-Gov. Douglas Wilder, Allen withdrew the request.
Defeated, 63-27, a bill to permit people who unknowingly are exposed to diseases but don't become sick for years afterward to sue those responsible for the exposure. Virginia law now requires that damage suits be filed within two years of the last exposure.
The vote was a victory for the insurance industry in a long-running battle with trial lawyers. The trial lawyers contend it's not fair to put such a limit on people who don't know they're going to get sick; they wanted the two-year count to begin when the illness is discovered. Legislators arguing the industry's case Sunday said suits filed 10 and 20 years after a person's exposure could be impossible to defend and said the extended time to sue would be particularly hard on small businesses.
Gave preliminary approval, by voice vote, to a bill permitting farmers to sell small amounts of raw goat's milk.
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB