Gatan Barrette may backtrack on banning IVF for women over 42

Health Minister Gatan Barrette appears open to changing one of the controversial elements in Bill 20.

Quebec might not set an age limit of 42 for invitrofertilization treatmentafter all.

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Among the options on the table are said to be raising the age limit, allowing doctors to decideor dropping it altogether.

But while Barrette might be ready to backtrack on that issue, he said he remains firm on most elements of the bill, including the patient quotas for family doctors.

Quebec launched itspubliclyfunded IVFprogram in 2010.

Initially budgeted at $30 million, the program ballooned to nearly $70 million last year.

The Liberal governmentdecided it wasn't sustainable and tabled Bill 20 last November. The legislation would putan end to fullyfunded treatment and restrictwho can access it.

Bill 20 could be passed as early as this spring.