This bill aims to ensure that individuals, including children and adults, have access to scalp and facial hair prostheses when experiencing hair loss due to specific medical conditions, such as alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and hair loss resulting from cancer treatments. The bill amends various sections of the General Laws, specifically sections 17E of chapter 32A, and chapters 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G, to include provisions that require insurance policies to provide nondiscriminatory coverage for these prostheses. The coverage is contingent upon a written statement from a treating physician confirming the medical necessity of the prosthesis.

Key insertions in the bill include definitions of "prosthesis," "scalp hair prosthesis," and "facial medical pigmentation," as well as the stipulation that coverage for these items must be provided at least at the same level as that for hair prostheses for hair loss due to chemotherapy. The bill also emphasizes that the alopecia must not be part of the natural or premature aging process, ensuring that individuals affected by these conditions receive the necessary support and resources for their treatment and well-being.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 32A-17E