H 4552
An Act to ensure access to scalp and facial hair prostheses for children and adults with alopecia areata
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to expand health insurance coverage in Massachusetts to include scalp and facial hair prostheses for individuals diagnosed with alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, non-classical 21-hydroxylase, or permanent hair loss due to injury – provided the condition isn’t related to aging. It updates various insurance regulations to ensure these prostheses are covered on a non-discriminatory basis, requiring a physician’s statement of medical necessity and aligning coverage with existing state insurer standards for chemotherapy-related hair loss.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘prosthesis’ to include scalp hair prostheses and facial medical pigmentation (eyebrows).
- Requires individual and group accident and sickness insurance policies, hospital service plans, and medical service agreements to cover expenses for these prostheses.
- Mandates a written physician’s statement confirming the medical necessity of the prosthesis.
- Sets coverage levels for facial hair loss prostheses to be at least equal to that provided for hair loss due to chemotherapy.
- Updates Chapter 176B to include coverage for medical pigmentation and scalp hair prostheses under medical service agreements.
- Updates Chapter 176A to include coverage for medical pigmentation and scalp hair prostheses under hospital service plans.
- Updates Chapter 176G to include coverage for medical pigmentation and scalp hair prostheses under health maintenance contracts.
- Establishes that coverage is not discriminatory and aligns with existing state insurer standards.
Who is affected
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Cosponsors
James B. Eldridge
Joan B. Lovely
Kristin E. Kassner
Lindsay N. Sabadosa
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Bill H.4552 194th (Current)
An Act to ensure access to scalp and facial hair prostheses for children and adults with alopecia areata
View Text Print Preview Download PDF
Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Financial Services Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
Tabs
Bill History Cosponsors Committee Vote Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 5 actions for Bill H.4552
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 9/29/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on Financial Services |
| 9/29/2025 | House | New draft of H1223 |
| 9/29/2025 | House | Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing |
| 12/8/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 3/19/2026 | House | Reporting date extended to Monday, June 15, 2026 |
Similar Bills
H.1223 194th (Current)
An Act to ensure access to scalp and facial hair prostheses for children and adults with alopecia areata
S.832 194th (Current)
An Act providing health insurance coverage for scalp and facial hair prostheses
H.1135 192nd (2021 - 2022)
An Act providing health insurance coverage for scalp and facial hair prosthesis
H.1066 193rd (2023 - 2024)
An Act providing health insurance coverage for scalp and facial hair prosthesis
S.716 193rd (2023 - 2024)
An Act providing health insurance coverage for scalp and facial hair prostheses
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.