ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY

[Tony]

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/
ROUTINE
R 281339Z FEB 25 MID180001641155U
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
INFO CMC WASHINGTON DC
CNO WASHINGTON DC
SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
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ALNAV 019/25

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB//

SUBJ/ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED ASSISTED 
REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY//

REF/A/EXECUTIVE ORDER 14182/24JAN25//
REF/B/PTDO USD-PR MEMORANDUM/3FEB25//
REF/C/ALNAV 071/22//
REF/D/ALNAV 018/23//
REF/E/DODI 1327.06/15JAN21//
REF/F/JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS 033013//

NARR/REF A IS EXECUTIVE ORDER TITLED, "ENFORCING THE HYDE AMENDMENT."
REF B IS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS, PERFORMING 
THE DUTIES OF, GUIDANCE: "NON-COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY."
REF C IS ALNAV "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT."
REF D IS ALNAV "ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED 
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE."
REF E IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION (DODI) 1327.06 "LEAVE AND LIBERTY 
PROCEDURES."
REF F IS THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS SECTION "TRAVEL FOR NON- COVERED 
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY."

RMKS/1.  References (a) and (b) establish policy that taxpayer dollars will 
not be used to fund, promote, or reimburse Service Members or dependents for 
elective abortion-related travel expenses.  Accordingly, references (c) and 
(d) are rescinded.  Reference (b) maintains access to non-covered Assisted 
Reproductive Technology (ART).  This ALNAV should be read in its entirety.

2.  The Department of the Navy (DON) is committed to ensuring the health, 
safety, and well-being of those who serve our country, and their families in 
an environment of safety, privacy, and respect.  Sailors, Marines, and their 
families should be permitted access to lawfully available non-covered ART.  
Reference (b) announced revised policies that allow a Service Member to be 
authorized either an administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART or 
provided travel and transportation allowances to facilitate official travel 
to access non-covered ART that is unavailable within the local area of a 
Service Member's permanent duty station.   Non-covered ART includes only the 
following:
    a.  Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, including any needed 
medications and procedures required for retrieval, processing, and 
utilization for ART or cryopreservation.
    b.  Sperm collection and processing for ART or cryopreservation.
    c.  Intrauterine insemination.
    d.  In vitro fertilization.

3.  It is the responsibility of the Commanding Officer (CO) or approval 
authorities to meet operational requirements and protect the health and 
safety of those in their care.  COs or approval authorities are expected to 
continue to display objectivity, compassion, and discretion when addressing 
all health care matters.

4.  Consistent with existing law and Departmental policy, COs protect the 
privacy of protected health information they receive under this policy, as 
they should with any other protected health information.  Such health care 
information will be restricted to personnel with a specific need to know; 
that is, access to the information must be necessary for the conduct of 
official duties.  Personnel will also be accountable for safeguarding this 
health care information consistent with existing law and Departmental policy.

5.  Administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART
    a.  Reference (b) authorizes the use of administrative absence to include 
the ability for a Sailor or Marine to request an administrative absence from 
their duties at their normal duty station for non-covered ART without loss of 
pay or being charged leave.  Reference (e) will be updated to reflect this 
change.
    b.  Eligibility.  Active duty Service Members, including Reserve 
Component members when on active duty orders for 30 or more consecutive days, 
may be granted an administrative absence to receive, or to accompany a dual-
military spouse or a dependent who receives, non-covered ART as defined in 
paragraph 2.  This administrative absence should be granted whether or not 
such care is available within the local area of the eligible Service Member's 
duty location as defined in reference(f), section 0206, "Travel In and Around 
the Permanent Duty Station," or whether the dual-military spouse or dependent 
resides with, or are geographically separated from, the eligible Service 
Member.
    c.  Duration.  The administrative absence may be granted for a period of 
up to 21 days per request.  The period of absence will be limited to the 
minimum number of days essential to receive the required care and travel 
needed to access the care by the most expeditious means of transportation 
practicable.  COs will limit health information required to the minimum 
amount necessary to ensure eligibility and be reasonably sure the duration of 
the time authorized meets this criteria.  Should a Service Member or 
dependent decide not to proceed with the non-covered ART, the DON will not 
charge the time away as leave and the Member should expeditiously return to 
the unit.
    d.  Approval guidance.  COs or approval authorities should grant an 
administrative absence to eligible Sailors and Marines when a non-covered ART 
need is identified by the eligible Service Member.  Requests for 
administrative absence should be given all due consideration and should be 
granted to the greatest extent practicable, unless, in the CO's judgment, the 
Service Member's absence would impair proper execution of the military 
mission.  If the CO denies the request, the Sailor or Marine may appeal the 
request to the next level of leadership.
        (1)  It is essential that COs or approval authorities act promptly 
and with appropriate discretion when considering a Service Member's request 
for an administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART.  To the greatest 
extent practicable, delay in granting an administrative absence should not 
result in an eligible Service Member being unable to access the non- covered 
ART that served as the basis for the administrative absence request.
        (2)  In considering the mission impact of a Service Member's request 
for an administrative absence for non- covered ART - for example, where 
recurring care may be necessary over a period of time - COs or approval 
authorities should coordinate with the eligible Service Member to balance 
operational requirements and the health care schedule.
        (3)  Eligible Service Members will not be granted an administrative 
absence if their intention is to sell, to offer for sale, or to receive 
proceeds from a sale resulting from an ART procedure while on, or in 
connection with taking, such absence (including, but not limited to, selling 
eggs, embryos, sperm, or services as a surrogate).
    e.  Convalescent Leave.  COs or approval authorities may also grant a 
Service Member convalescent leave, as permitted under reference (e), 
following receipt of non-covered ART based on a recommendation from a 
Department of Defense (DoD) health care provider or a non-DoD health care 
provider from whom the Service Member is receiving care.

6.  Travel allowances
    a.  Eligibility, reimbursement amounts, and procedures for travel 
allowances to obtain non-covered ART are provided in reference (f).
    b.  Travel funding is the responsibility of the command authorizing the 
travel.  Commands must adhere to fiscal regulations and may not authorize 
travel which is not required or for which funding is not available, but all 
levels of leadership are expected to support this policy and prioritize 
available resources accordingly.  If funding is an issue, commands will work 
with their chain of command and budget submitting office to obtain additional 
funds.
    c.  Should a Service Member or dependent decide not to proceed with non-
covered ART after travel requested in good faith has commenced, the DON will 
not recoup travel funds and the Service Member should expeditiously return.
    d.  Eligible Service Members will not be granted travel allowances if 
their intention is to sell, to offer for sale, or to receive proceeds from a 
sale resulting from an ART procedure.

7.  Accounting and Reporting.  The DON will continue to be tasked to report 
cost and usage of the administrative absence and funded travel policies 
authorized by reference (b), reference (f), and this ALNAV.
    a.  The accounting and reporting requirements in this message apply to 
DON organizations and Service Members assigned to DON organizations.  The 
cost and usage by Sailors and Marines assigned to organizations in other DoD 
components will be recorded using the mechanisms established by those 
components.
    b.  The Navy and Marine Corps will continue to use their previously 
established recording mechanisms for administrative absence.  The number of 
days used will be reported by the Service of the Member, regardless of 
whether assigned to a Navy or Marine unit.  Reports will include no 
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Health Insurance Portability and 
Accountability Act (HIPAA) information and will not disclose the type of non-
covered ART.
        (1)  The Navy will be responsible for reporting use by Sailors, 
regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine Corps unit.
        (2)  The Marine Corps will be responsible for reporting use by 
Marines, regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine Corps unit.
    c.  The Navy and Marine Corps will continue to use their previously 
established tracking mechanisms for cost and usage of travel and 
transportation allowances.
        (1)  The Marine Corps will be responsible for reporting usage by 
Service Members whose travel was funded by Marine Corps commands, regardless 
of the branch of the Service Member.
        (2)  The Navy will be responsible for reporting usage by Service 
Members whose travel was funded by Navy commands, regardless of the branch of 
the Service Member.
        (3)  The reports will not include PII or HIPAA information.  The 
reports will not specify what type of non- covered ART was the basis for 
travel.
        (4)  The Navy and Marine Corps will be responsible for tracking and 
reporting the following information for each temporary duty travel period 
authorized.
            (a)  Command name.
            (b)  Branch of the Service Member (e.g., Navy, Marine Corps).
            (c)  Fiscal quarter in which the travel completed.
            (d)  Number of travel days used by the Service Member.   
Note that the days authorized or used by a dependent on the same trip may be 
more or less than this amount.  Days of travel by non-Service Members are not 
required to be reported.
            (e)  Total cost.  A single cost is to be provided for the entire 
trip and inclusive of all authorized travelers.  Do not break down costs by 
traveler or by any other basis.  Provide the actual cost of the trip after 
travel claims are completed.

8.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 1000.10B, "Department of the Navy 
Policy on Parenthood and Pregnancy," Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 
Instruction 6000.1D, "Navy Guidelines Concerning Pregnancy and Parenthood," 
and Marine Corps Order 5000.12F, "Marine Corps Policy Concerning Parenthood 
and Pregnancy" will be updated to conform with this policy.  In the meantime, 
the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps will 
issue additional implementation guidance as necessary.

9.  Released by Mr. Terence G. Emmert, Acting Secretary of the Navy.//

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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/