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.
Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would make Medicare coverage for wigs (cranial prostheses) dependent on a clinician's written certification of medical necessity. It would add cranial prostheses to Medicare's list of durable medical equipment and limit coverage to cases tied to a proposed course of rehabilitative treatment or hair loss caused by a health condition such as autoimmune disease, cancer, or chemotherapy.
Show full summary
- Families and Medicare beneficiaries: People on Medicare who lose hair from a health condition could have wigs covered when a qualifying clinician certifies they are medically necessary.
- Clinicians: Dermatologists, oncologists, or an attending physician must provide a written certification as part of proposed rehabilitation to make a cranial prosthesis eligible.
- Medicare program and payment rules: Cranial prostheses that are not certified this way would be handled under existing Medicare coverage and payment rules.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Medicare coverage for medical wigs
If enacted, Medicare would add cranial prostheses (wigs) to the definition of durable medical equipment. Medicare would cover a wig only when a dermatologist, oncologist, or your attending physician provides a written certification that the wig is medically necessary. The certification must say the wig is part of a proposed course of rehabilitative treatment or is for hair loss caused by a health condition, including autoimmune disease, cancer, or chemotherapy. If the required written certification is not provided, coverage and payment would follow Medicare's normal rules under section 1862(a)(1). The change would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov