Summary of HR 6797 (2025)

Overview

HR 6797 is a proposed bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on December 17, 2025. Its core aim is to amend Title 10 of the United States Code to authorize and provide fertility treatment benefits under the TRICARE Health Program. The measure was introduced and promptly referred to the House Committee on Armed Services for consideration.

What the bill would do

• Amend Title 10 U.S.C. to include fertility treatment services within the TRICARE benefit package.
• Expand coverage options to eligible beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE, potentially including active-duty service members, dependents, and eligible retirees, subject to the bill’s defined eligibility and medical-necessity criteria.
• Establish parameters for coverage, such as types of fertility treatments covered, medical standards for coverage, and any required authorization or medical supervision by TRICARE network providers.

Key provisions (conceptual, based on the bill’s purpose)

• Coverage Requirements: Create statutory coverage for fertility treatments under TRICARE, potentially including but not limited to infertility testing, medications, and reproductive technologies.
• Eligibility and Access: Define who is eligible (e.g., active-duty members, dependents, retirees) and how beneficiaries obtain coverage (prior authorization, network participation, etc.).
• Medical Necessity and Standards: Set criteria to determine when fertility treatments are medically necessary and approvable within TRICARE.
• Cost-Sharing and Benefits Design: Establish cost-sharing rules (deductibles, copays, caps) and benefit design (annual or lifetime limits, deductibility, out-of-pocket maximums).
• Program Administration: Align implementation with DoD/TRICARE administration, including coordination with military treatment facilities and civilian providers as appropriate.
• Oversight and Reporting: Include potential reporting requirements to ensure program effectiveness, utilization, and fiscal impact.

Who would be affected

• Primary Beneficiaries: Active-duty service members and their dependents, as well as other TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries (e.g., retirees and their dependents) who seek fertility treatment.
• Providers: Military and civilian healthcare providers within the TRICARE network who perform fertility treatments and related services.
• DoD/TRICARE Program: Administrative adjustments to coverage policies, formularies, and provider networks necessary to implement the expanded benefits.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Status: Introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• Next steps: Committee review, potential markup, and subsequent votes in the House; possible consideration by the Senate and/or conference committee if companion legislation advances.
• Timing considerations: As a newly introduced bill, concrete implementation dates depend on final legislative action, budgetary processes, and DoD/TRICARE administrative readiness.

Potential implications

• Financial: Possible increases in TRICARE expenditures to cover fertility services; any enacted funding requirements would shape implementation and access.
• Access and equity: Expanded access to fertility care for military families, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs and improving options for family-building.
• Policy alignment: Integration with existing DoD medical policies, utilization management, and network adequacy requirements.

Note: The summary reflects the bill’s stated purpose and likely areas of impact based on the title and introductory status. The full text would specify exact covered services, eligibility criteria, cost-sharing, and implementation details.