Legislative Scramble to Protect IVF in AL, AL IVF Ruling Sidelines FL Bill & More

AL Lawmakers Scramble to Address Supreme Court’s IVF Ruling

Alabama’s House and Senate have fast tracked legislation (HB 237 and SB 159) that would grant civil and criminal immunity to providers of in vitro fertilization procedures. Several providers in the state paused IVF procedures after the Alabama Supreme Court issued a decision granting “personhood” status to frozen embryos and making such clinics subject to prosecution for destroying them under the state’s wrongful death law. Both bills were passed by their chamber of origin and could become law this week. (AL.COM, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

Fallout from AL IVF Ruling in FL

Florida Sen. Erin Grall (R) pulled her bill (SB 476) aimed at granting civil protections to unborn children after concerns were raised about its potential impact on IVF procedures, following the Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF ruling. The measure had already cleared a couple of committees, but Grall said work had to be done to safeguard IVF treatment. (WASHINGTON POST, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

MS House Approves Medicaid Expansion Bill

Mississippi’s House passed a bill (HB 1725) that would expand Medicaid to cover those who earn less than 138% of the federal poverty limit but require them to work at least 20 hours a week at a job that doesn’t provide health insurance coverage. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann (R), who also leads the state’s Senate, has expressed support for a companion bill in that chamber. But Gov. Tate Reeves (R) has steadfastly opposed Medicaid expansion and indicated he’s skeptical about the feasibility of work requirements. (PLURIBUS NEWS)

CA Lawsuit Targets Implicit Bias Training in Health Care Education

A pair of Los Angeles-based doctors and the activist group Do No Harm have filed a lawsuit challenging California’s requirement that all continuing medical education courses include training in implicit bias, unconscious beliefs that could contribute to racial and ethnic bias. The suit is part of a national effort by right-leaning advocacy groups to push back against DEI initiatives in health care, partly spurred by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last year barring affirmative action in higher education. (KFF HEALTH NEWS)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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