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HB 744

Fertility Preservation Pilot Program.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Kanika Brown and 6 co-sponsors

Creates a seven-year NC fertility preservation pilot funded by $2.25M per year in grants to three medical centers to cover preservation, storage, and IVF/IUI for cancer patients.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 744

HB 744 — Fertility Preservation Pilot Program (Summary)

Status: Introduced/Passed first reading (NC); effective date July 1, 2025 (bill text)
Primary topic: public health / cancer care / family planning — fertility preservation for patients whose fertility is threatened by cancer or cancer treatment

Purpose

Establish a time‑limited pilot program to help people at risk of treatment‑related infertility (because of a cancer diagnosis or cancer therapy) obtain fertility‑preserving services, initial storage, and—when appropriate—subsequent assisted‑reproduction services (IVF/IUI).

Key provisions

  • Appropriation: $2,250,000 in nonrecurring General Fund dollars for each year of the 2025–2027 biennium. These funds are to be awarded as directed grants in equal amounts to three named grantees:
    • Duke University School of Medicine — Onco‑Fertility Program
    • UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine — Fertility Clinic/Fertility Preservation Program
    • Atrium Health Levine Cancer Center — REhope Cancer Fertility Treatment Program
  • Program period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2032.
  • Allowed uses:
    • Oocyte retrieval, cryopreservation, and up to five years of storage (female): up to $12,000 per participant.
    • Sperm retrieval, cryopreservation, and up to five years of storage (male): up to $1,500 per participant.
    • IVF or IUI services: up to $26,000 per participant (IVF/IUI must be scheduled within five years after gamete retrieval).
  • Grantees may reserve up to $26,000 per applicant for future IVF/IUI services (no reservations for services scheduled more than five years after retrieval).
  • Administrative cap: grantees may use up to 3% of grant funds for program administration.
  • Funds do not revert at fiscal year end; remain available until expended or June 30, 2032.

Eligibility (examples / criteria)

An applicant meeting at least one of the following may be eligible (grantees must set formal application and eligibility rules consistent with the law):
- Uninsured; or
- Has insurance that does not comprehensively cover IVF/IUI, fertility preservation, or storage; or
- Has insurance covering those services but would face out‑of‑pocket responsibility exceeding $1,000; and
- If one or more of the above apply, the applicant qualifies for preference if household income is less than 300% of the federal poverty level for a household of three (grantee application processes will specify details).

Reporting and oversight

  • Each grantee must report beginning Feb 1, 2028, and annually through Feb 1, 2033, to:
    • Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations
    • Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services
    • Fiscal Research Division
  • Required reporting items (HIPAA‑compliant format): itemized expenditures; counts and types of services funded; amounts held in reserve and number of participants with reserved funds; evaluation of effectiveness/outcomes.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: cancer patients (male and female) whose fertility is threatened by disease or treatment and who are uninsured, underinsured for fertility services, or low‑to‑moderate income under the specified threshold.
  • Providers/grantees: the three named academic/clinical programs that will administer grants and services.
  • State fiscal impact: appropriation from the General Fund as noted; grantees permitted small administrative use.

Notes / considerations

  • The law requires grantees to develop application/eligibility procedures consistent with statutory limits; specific operational details (e.g., verification, prioritization) will be determined by each grantee.
  • Funds are limited and capped per participant; not all eligible patients may receive full funding depending on demand and grant allocations.
  • Data and outcome reporting are required to inform future policy decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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