Provides insurance coverage for cranial prostheses

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jamaal Bailey says this is needed

It is common for health insurers in the state to provide coverage for prosthetics and other durable medical equipment; however, few insurers, if any, also cover cranial prostheses, such as wigs and hairpieces. For patients with conditions such as alopecia or lupus that result in hair loss, cranial prostheses may be prescribed as part of their treatment. Furthermore, a high-quality prosthesis can cost hundreds of dollars, presenting a hardship to many of these patients. Insurance carriers don't cover cranial prostheses under the pretext that alopecia or other medical hair loss is a cosmetic condition. But these are serious diseases that have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Access to cranial prostheses, just like other prostheses and durable medical equipment, can have a positive effect on patient outcomes, which is why providers may include these as part of a treat- ment plan. The purpose of this bill is to expand certain insurance poli- cies that provide coverage for prosthetics to include a minimum coverage for cranial prostheses.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.