State insurance mandates and racial and ethnic inequities in assisted reproductive technology utilization

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine whether the (1) scope of state-mandated insurance coverage for assisted reproductive technology (ART), and (2) proportion of the population eligible for this coverage, are associated with reductions in racial/ethnic inequities in ART utilization. DesignNational cross-sectional, ecologic study. SubjectsWe employed estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau of all women 20–44 years of age living in the U.S. in 2018. The number of women who initiated an ART cycle during that year that was reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was obtained from the National ART Surveillance System (NASS). ExposureState mandates were classified by scope of required coverage for fertility services: Comprehensive, Limited, and No Mandate. Main Outcomes MeasuresRace and ethnic-specific ART utilization rates, defined as number of women undergoing ≥1 ART cycles per 10,000 women, were the primary outcome. As state mandates do not apply to all insurance plans, Comprehensive Mandate utilization rates were recalculated using denominators corrected for the estimated proportions of populations eligible for coverage. ResultsAcross all mandate categories, Non-Hispanic (NH) Asian and NH White populations had the highest ART utilization rates, whereas the lowest rates were among Hispanic, NH Black, and NH Other/Multiple Races populations. As compared to the NH Asian reference group, the NH Black population had smaller inequities in the Comprehensive Mandate group than the No Mandate group (Rate Ratio [RR 0.33 [0.28-0.38] versus RR 0.23 [0.22-0.24]). Using the Comprehensive Mandate group for each race/ethnicity as reference, the NH Black and NH Other/Multiple Races populations had the largest relative differences in utilization between the No Mandate and Comprehensive Mandate groups (RR 0.39 [0.37-0.41] and 0.33 [0.28-0.38], respectively). Within the Comprehensive Mandate group, the disparities in the Hispanic and NH Black populations moved towards the null after correcting for state-mandated insurance eligibility. ConclusionsRacial/ethnic inequities in ART utilization were reduced in states with comprehensive infertility coverage mandates. Inequities were further attenuated after correcting for mandate eligibility. Mandates alone, however, were not sufficient to eliminate disparities. These findings can inform future strategies aimed at improving ART access under a social justice framework.