RESTORE Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1882
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-28T11:03:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The RESTORE Act aims to improve reproductive health by expanding research, data collection, and training on conditions that cause infertility and related issues. It emphasizes "restorative reproductive medicine," which focuses on diagnosing and treating underlying health problems to restore natural fertility, rather than relying solely on assisted reproductive technologies (like IVF). The bill seeks to address gaps in care, reduce diagnosis delays, and promote education for both patients and medical professionals.
Key Provisions
- Findings and Definitions (Secs. 1-3): Outlines Congress's recognition of reproductive health challenges, such as endometriosis (tissue growth outside the uterus causing pain and infertility), adenomyosis (endometrial tissue invading the uterus muscle), polycystic ovary syndrome (hormonal disorder leading to cysts on ovaries), uterine fibroids (non-cancerous tumors in the uterus), and blocked fallopian tubes. Defines key terms, including "restorative reproductive medicine" (non-invasive approaches to fix hormonal and anatomical issues), "fertility awareness-based methods" (tracking menstrual cycles via body signs like temperature or cervical fluid), and "infertility" (difficulty conceiving after 6-12 months of trying, depending on age).
- Non-Discrimination for Providers (Sec. 4): Prohibits the federal government, states, or federally funded entities from penalizing healthcare providers who refuse to participate in or refer for assisted reproductive technologies if it conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs.
- Literature Reviews on Standards of Care (Secs. 5-6): Requires the Assistant Secretary for Health (in the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS) to review peer-reviewed studies every three years (starting two years after enactment) on best practices for diagnosing infertility and reproductive health conditions. Topics include access to restorative options before assisted technologies, training on fertility awareness methods, and insurance coverage for these services. Patient privacy must be protected under existing laws.
- Survey Expansion (Sec. 7): Directs the CDC Director to evaluate and potentially update the National Survey of Family Growth to include questions on restorative reproductive health, conditions like infertility, availability of restorative medicine, and fertility awareness training. Reports to Congress every three years, starting three years after enactment.
- Funding and Grant Access (Secs. 8-9): Amends Title X of the Public Health Service Act to make entities focused on restorative reproductive medicine eligible for family planning grants, regardless of prior experience requirements. Expands the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program to include grants for education on restorative methods and fertility awareness; requires a report on grant recipients 18 months after enactment.
- Training Programs (Sec. 10): Mandates HHS to update the Reproductive Health National Training Center's curriculum on reproductive conditions, restorative medicine, and fertility awareness. Starting two years after enactment, Title X grantees must receive training, including toolkits, videos, and fellowships in methods like NaProTECHNOLOGY (a surgical approach to fix reproductive structures).
- Male Infertility Focus (Sec. 11): Requires HHS to develop education and treatments for male infertility through lifestyle changes (e.g., addressing obesity, hormonal imbalances, or exposure to chemicals). Covers topics like sperm quality and erectile dysfunction; plans reported to Congress 18 months after enactment.
- Medical Coding Updates (Sec. 12): Directs HHS, CDC, and others to revise diagnostic (ICD-10) and procedural codes within one year to better reflect restorative treatments, such as minimally invasive surgeries for endometriosis or fibroids. Includes new codes for cycle charting education, bundled payments for comprehensive care, and actuarial analysis for fair reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid.
- Research Expansion (Sec. 13): Coordinates HHS agencies to fund and conduct research on causes, diagnoses, and treatments for reproductive conditions (e.g., links to cancer, microplastics, or STIs). Includes studies on restorative medicine's effectiveness for pregnancy success. Ongoing public report required two years after enactment.
- Severability (Sec. 14): Ensures that if any part of the Act is ruled unconstitutional, the rest remains in effect.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Title X (family planning programs) to prioritize restorative approaches, broadening eligibility for grants beyond traditional assisted technologies.
- Introduces new protections against discrimination for providers opting out of assisted reproductive services, building on existing conscience clauses but specifically targeting fertility treatments.
- Mandates updates to medical coding systems (ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS), which could alter how insurers reimburse for restorative care, potentially shifting from procedure-based to bundled payments.
- Expands federal surveys and reporting requirements, integrating restorative medicine into national health data collection for the first time at this scale.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for HHS, CDC, and related offices through new reports, research coordination, training programs, and code revisions. Could lead to higher funding needs for Title X and research grants, with periodic reporting to Congress.
- Citizens: Improves access to information, earlier diagnoses, and non-invasive treatments for infertility and conditions affecting 15-16% of couples. May reduce long-term health costs by addressing root causes (e.g., hormonal imbalances), benefiting women and men seeking natural fertility options. Enhanced privacy protections ensure secure data handling.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though expanded U.S. research on global issues like endocrine disruptors or microplastics could influence international health standards or collaborations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals with Reproductive Health Issues: Primarily women and men facing infertility or conditions like endometriosis; gains from better education, training, and restorative options to improve fertility and overall health.
- Healthcare Providers: Doctors, nurses, and specialists (e.g., in gynecology or endocrinology) benefit from non-discrimination protections, new training, and updated reimbursements, encouraging adoption of restorative methods.
- Researchers and Educators: Universities, institutes (e.g., Reproductive Health Research Institute), and programs like NaProTECHNOLOGY receive more funding and survey integration for studies on fertility awareness.
- Insurers and Health Plans: Public (Medicare/Medicaid) and private payers face requirements to cover and code restorative services, potentially increasing short-term costs but improving long-term outcomes.
- Government and Non-Profits: HHS agencies, Title X grantees, and teen pregnancy prevention organizations must adapt programs, with eligibility expanded to restorative-focused entities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens provider conscience rights under the First Amendment by explicitly prohibiting federal penalties for refusing assisted reproductive involvement, potentially reducing litigation over moral objections. The severability clause protects the Act's core from partial invalidation. Updates to coding could standardize reimbursements, aiding compliance with anti-discrimination laws like the Affordable Care Act.
- Constitutional: Aligns with religious freedom protections (e.g., via the Religious Freedom Restoration Act) by accommodating sincerely held beliefs, but may face challenges if seen as favoring certain medical approaches over others.
- Political: Promotes a shift toward "restorative" over "assisted" fertility care, reflecting bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., Senators Hyde-Smith, Lankford) and emphasizing natural health methods. Could spark debates on reproductive rights, insurance mandates, and federal overreach in medical standards, without directly addressing abortion or contraception.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-05-22: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration Act — issued 2025-05-22 — PDF (24 pages)