To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for wigs as durable medical equipment under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
Sponsored By: Representative McGovern
Introduced
Summary
Medicare coverage for cranial prostheses (wigs) as durable medical equipment. This bill would expand Medicare to cover cranial prostheses only when a dermatologist, oncologist, or the attending physician provides a written certification that the prosthesis is medically necessary for a proposed course of rehabilitative treatment or for hair loss caused by a health condition, including autoimmune diseases, cancer, or chemotherapy.
Show full summary
- People on Medicare who lose hair because of illness or treatment could get cranial prostheses covered when a qualifying physician signs a written medical-necessity certification.
- Dermatologists, oncologists, and attending physicians would be the required certifying clinicians and must document medical necessity in writing as part of proposed rehabilitation.
- The bill adds cranial prostheses to the Medicare definition of durable medical equipment and sets how uncertified cranial prostheses are treated under the amended rules.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicare would cover medical wigs
If enacted, Medicare would cover cranial prostheses (wigs) as durable medical equipment. You would be eligible only if a dermatologist, oncologist, or your attending physician certifies in writing that the wig is medically necessary. The certification must state it is part of a proposed course of rehabilitative treatment or to treat hair loss from a health condition, including autoimmune disease, cancer, or chemotherapy. The bill also adds a rule to address cranial prostheses that are not certified in this way under the amended framework.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McGovern
MA • D
Cosponsors
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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