# 119-s-3872: A bill 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.

119-s-3872, A bill 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., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3872
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3872
- Congress: 119
- Title: A bill 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.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-02-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Medicare would cover medically necessary cranial prostheses (wigs) as durable medical equipment.** It would require a written certification from a dermatologist, oncologist, or the attending physician that the prosthesis is medically necessary for a proposed course of rehabilitative treatment or for hair loss caused by conditions such as autoimmune disease, cancer, or chemotherapy. - Medicare beneficiaries: People who need cranial prostheses for medical hair loss could get coverage when a qualified clinician signs a written certification. - Clinicians: Dermatologists, oncologists, and attending physicians would need to document medical necessity in writing as a condition of coverage. - Coverage rules: Certified cranial prostheses would be treated as durable medical equipment under Medicare and prostheses without the required certification would not be covered.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicare would cover medical wigs: benefit, medium. If enacted, Medicare would be allowed to cover cranial prostheses (wigs) when a qualifying clinician provides a written certification of medical necessity. The certification must come from a dermatologist, oncologist, or your attending physician and must say the wig is medically necessary as part o…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3872 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3872)

## Related
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3872 (as of 2026-04-21).