This bill, known as Jessica Huffman's Law, aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by adding several new sections that require health insurers to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems used during cancer chemotherapy treatment. The bill defines a "scalp cooling system" as a device designed to cool the human scalp to prevent or reduce hair loss during chemotherapy, emphasizing that it must be intended for repeated medical use. The coverage mandate applies to any insurance policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and allows for the possibility of annual deductibles and coinsurance, including copayments, as determined by the insurance commissioner.

The bill introduces new sections across various chapters of the West Virginia Code, specifically in the areas of public employees insurance, human services, and insurance, among others. Each section reiterates the requirement for insurers to cover scalp cooling systems in conjunction with chemotherapy treatment, aligning with definitions provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This legislative effort seeks to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients by mitigating the distress associated with hair loss during treatment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-16-8b, 9-5-34, 33-15-4a, 33-16-20, 33-24-15, 33-25-23, 33-25A-37