Bill > AB1682

This bill requires certain large group health care service plans, large group health insurance policies, and the Medi-Cal program—California’s public health insurance for low-income residents—to provide coverage for scalp cooling when prescribed by a medical provider to prevent or reduce hair loss, medically known as alopecia, caused by chemotherapy drugs. Under the bill, covered scalp cooling is strictly defined as the use of medical devices or systems that have been cleared by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning that unapproved products or DIY cold caps are excluded from the mandate. For commercial health plans and insurers, the coverage takes effect for policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and any out-of-pocket costs like copayments or deductibles for scalp cooling cannot be less favorable than those applied to other cancer supportive care services. Meanwhile, the inclusion of scalp cooling as a Medi-Cal benefit is contingent upon receiving necessary federal approval and available federal funding.