Bill > AB1682

This bill requires certain large group health care service plans, health insurance policies, and the Medi-Cal program—California’s public health insurance for low-income residents—to cover scalp cooling treatments when prescribed by a doctor to help prevent or reduce hair loss, medically known as alopecia, caused by cancer chemotherapy drugs. To qualify for coverage under this legislation, the scalp cooling method must utilize a medical device or system that has been officially cleared by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning that homemade or alternative unapproved products like basic cold caps are excluded. For private insurance plans, the requirement applies to contracts issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and ensures that patient out-of-pocket costs such as copayments and deductibles for scalp cooling are no harsher than those applied to other cancer supportive care services. Meanwhile, the expansion of Medi-Cal benefits to include scalp cooling is subject to regular medical necessity rules and utilization controls, as well as the availability of federal funding and approvals.