Bill > S832

This bill mandates that health insurance policies in Massachusetts provide coverage for scalp and facial hair prostheses (artificial substitutes for hair) and facial medical pigmentation for individuals who have experienced hair loss due to specific medical conditions. The coverage would apply to hair loss resulting from cancer or leukemia treatment, as well as medical conditions like alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, non-classical 21-hydroxylase, or permanent hair loss due to injury, but explicitly excludes hair loss from natural aging. The bill requires that such coverage be provided on a non-discriminatory basis and be subject to a written statement from a treating physician confirming medical necessity. The bill amends several chapters of Massachusetts law governing different types of health insurance plans, including individual and group policies, hospital service plans, medical service agreements, and health maintenance contracts. Additionally, the bill introduces definitions for terms like "prosthesis" and "scalp cooling device" (an FDA-approved device used to potentially reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss) and stipulates that the coverage should be provided at the same amount and frequency as hair prostheses for chemotherapy-related hair loss.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S832