GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 473
Short Title: Right to IVF. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Helfrich, Cohn, Pittman, and Prather (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
March 24, 2025
*H473 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT PROTECTING TH E RIGHT TO ACCESS AS SISTED REPRODUCTIVE 2
TECHNOLOGY; AND APPR OPRIATING FUNDS TO T HE DEPARTMENT OF 3
HEALTH AND HUMAN SER VICES, DIVISION OF HEALTH BENEFITS, TO 4
INCREASE FUNDING FOR MEDICAID MATERNAL S UPPORT SERVICES. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
7
PART I. RIGHT TO ACCESS ASSISTED REPRODU CTIVE TECHNOLOGY 8
SECTION 1. Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article 9
to read: 10
"Article 1O. 11
"Assisted Reproductive Technology. 12
"§ 90-21.160. Definitions. 13
The following definitions apply in this Article: 14
(1) Assisted reproductive technology. – All treatments or procedures that include 15
the handling of human oocytes or human embryos, including in vitro 16
fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, and zygote intrafallopian transfer. 17
(2) Health care provider. – Either of the following: 18
a. An individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under 19
this Chapter to provide health care services in the ordinary course of 20
business or practice of a profession or in an approved education or 21
training program. 22
b. A health care facility licensed under Chapter 131E of the General 23
Statutes to provide health care services to patients. 24
The term "health care provider" includes (i) an agent or employee of a 25
health care facility that is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to 26
provide health care services, (ii) the officers and directors of a health care 27
facility, and (iii) an agent or employee of a health care provider who is 28
licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services. 29
(3) Health care service. – A health or medical procedure or service rendered by a 30
health care provider that meets either of the following criteria: 31
a. Provides testing, diagnosis, or treatment of a health condition, illness, 32
injury, or disease. 33
b. Dispenses drugs, medical devices, medical appliances, or medical 34
goods for the treatment of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease. 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 473-First Edition
"§ 90-21.162. Right to access assisted reproductive technology. 1
Neither the State nor any of its political subdivisions shall prohibit, unreasonably limit, or 2
interfere with any of the following: 3
(1) The right of a patient to access assisted reproductive technology. 4
(2) The right of a health care provider to provide or assist with the provision of 5
evidence-based information related to assisted reproductive technology. 6
(3) The right of a health care provider to perform or assist with the performance 7
of assisted reproductive technology. 8
"§ 90-21.164. Fertilized human egg or human embryo not a human being. 9
A fertilized human egg or human embryo that exists in any form outside of the uterus of a 10
human body shall not, under any circumstance, be considered an unborn fetus, an unborn child, 11
a minor child, a natural person, or any other term that connotes a human being for any purpose 12
under State law. 13
"§ 90-21.166. Construction. 14
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to prohibit the enforcement of health and safety 15
laws related to the operation of health care facilities or the provision of health care services by 16
health care providers." 17
18
PART II. INCREASE FUNDING FOR MEDICAID M ATERNAL SUPPORT SERV ICES 19
SECTION 2. Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund to 20
the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, the sum of five 21
hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal 22
biennium to be used to increase funding for Medicaid maternal support services, also known as 23
the Baby Love Program. These funds shall provide a State match for nine hundred thirteen 24
thousand dollars ($913,000) in recurring federal funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal 25
biennium, and those federal funds are appropriated to the Division of Health Benefits to be used 26
for this same purpose. 27
28
PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 29
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 30
law. 31