Health Insurance - Scalp Cooling Systems - Required Coverage

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0393*

HOUSE BILL 393
J5 6lr1325
HB 1187/25 – HGO CF SB 272
By: Delegates Nkongolo, Arentz, Beauchamp, Behler, Boyce, Feldmark ,
Hutchinson, Kaiser, Kipke, J. Long, McComas, Metzgar, T. Morgan,
Patterson, Reilly, Sample–Hughes, Schmidt, Simmons, Vogel, Wims, Woods,
and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 18, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Health Insurance – Scalp Cooling Systems – Required Coverage 2

FOR the purpose of requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health 3
maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations that provide coverage 4
for chemotherapy to treat cancer to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems; and 5
generally relating to the coverage of scalp cooling systems by health insurance 6
carriers. 7

BY adding to 8
Article – Insurance 9
Section 15–864 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14

Article – Insurance 15

15–864. 16

(A) IN THIS SECTION, “SCALP COOLING SYSTEM” MEANS A DEVICE USED TO 17
2 HOUSE BILL 393

COOL THE HUMAN SCALP TO PREVENT OR REDUCE HAIR LOSS IN CONNECTION WITH 1
CHEMOTHERAPY TO TREAT CANCER THAT IS: 2

(1) DESIGNED AND INTENDED FOR REPEATED USE; AND 3

(2) PRIMARILY AND CUSTOMARILY USED TO SERVE A MEDICAL 4
PURPOSE. 5

(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO: 6

(1) INSURERS AND NONPROF IT HEALTH SERVICE PL ANS THAT 7
PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS 8
ON AN EXPENSE –INCURRED BASIS UNDER HEALTH INSUR ANCE POLICIES OR 9
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE; AND 10

(2) HEALTH MAINTENANCE O RGANIZATIONS THAT PR OVIDE 11
HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS UNDER 12
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE. 13

(C) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION THAT PROVIDES COVERAGE FOR 14
CHEMOTHERAPY TO TREA T CANCER SHALL PROVI DE COVERAGE FOR SCAL P 15
COOLING SYSTEMS USED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HAIR IN CONNECTIO N WITH 16
THE CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT. 17

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENAC TED, That this Act shall apply to all 18
policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or 19
after January 1, 2027. 20

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 21
January 1, 2027. 22

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.