Mandatory Insurance Coverage for Scalp Cooling Devices During Chemotherapy.
This law mandates that private and public health insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits, must cover the cost of scalp cooling items used to prevent or reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. Effective January 1, 2025, this change significantly reduces the financial burden on cancer patients. Crucially, patient out-of-pocket costs for these devices must be equal to those applied to intravenous anticancer drugs.
Key points
Insurers must cover scalp cooling devices (cooling caps, cold caps) used to mitigate hair loss during chemotherapy.
Patient financial requirements (copayments, deductibles) for these devices must match those for intravenous cancer drugs, ensuring cost parity.
The mandate applies broadly across group and individual plans, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, and VA health programs starting in 2025.
Expired
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