AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Mandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatments.)

H7537

2026 -- H 7537
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LC004761
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Introduced By:
Representatives Alzate, Read, Dawson, Kazarian, Casimiro, Caldwell,
Handy, Fogarty, Shallcross Smith, and Ajello

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance
2
Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

27-18-68.1. Mandatory coverage for scalp cooling systems.

4

(a) As used in this section, the phrase "scalp cooling systems" means any medical device
5
that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and designed to cool the human
6
scalp to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced or related alopecia before, during, and/or after
7
chemotherapy administration for cancer treatment.
8

(b) Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual
9
or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this
10
state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage to individuals diagnosed with cancer and
11
undergoing chemotherapy treatments for scalp cooling systems.
12

(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
13

(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
14

(2) Disability income;
15

(3) Accident only;
16

(4) Long-term care;
17

(5) Medicare supplement;
18

(6) Limited benefit health;
19

(7) Specified disease indemnity;

1

(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
2

(9) Other limited benefit policies.
3
SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service
4
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
5

27-19-59.1. Mandatory coverage for scalp cooling systems.

6

(a) As used in this section, the phrase "scalp cooling systems" means any medical device
7
that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and designed to cool the human
8
scalp to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced or related alopecia before, during, and/or after
9
chemotherapy administration for cancer treatment.
10

(b) Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual
11
or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this
12
state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage to individuals diagnosed with cancer and
13
undergoing chemotherapy treatments for scalp cooling systems.
14

(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
15

(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
16

(2) Disability income;
17

(3) Accident only;
18

(4) Long-term care;
19

(5) Medicare supplement;
20

(6) Limited benefit health;
21

(7) Specified disease indemnity;
22

(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
23

(9) Other limited benefit policies.
24
SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service
25
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
26

27-20-54.1. Mandatory coverage for scalp cooling systems.

27

(a) As used in this section, the phrase "scalp cooling systems" means any medical device
28
that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and designed to cool the human
29
scalp to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced or related alopecia before, during, and/or after
30
chemotherapy administration for cancer treatment.
31

(b) Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual
32
or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this
33
state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage to individuals diagnosed with cancer and
34
undergoing chemotherapy treatments for scalp cooling systems.

LC004761 - Page 2 of 4
1

(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
2

(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
3

(2) Disability income;
4

(3) Accident only;
5

(4) Long-term care;
6

(5) Medicare supplement;
7

(6) Limited benefit health;
8

(7) Specified disease indemnity;
9

(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
10

(9) Other limited benefit policies.
11
SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance
12
Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
13

27-41-71.1. Mandatory coverage for scalp cooling systems.

14

(a) As used in this section, the phrase "scalp cooling systems" means any medical device
15
that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and designed to cool the human
16
scalp to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced or related alopecia before, during, and/or after
17
chemotherapy administration for cancer treatment.
18

(b) Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual
19
or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this
20
state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage to individuals diagnosed with cancer and
21
undergoing chemotherapy treatments for scalp cooling systems.
22

(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
23

(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
24

(2) Disability income;
25

(3) Accident only;
26

(4) Long-term care;
27

(5) Medicare supplement;
28

(6) Limited benefit health;
29

(7) Specified disease indemnity;
30

(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
31

(9) Other limited benefit policies.
32
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004761
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LC004761 - Page 3 of 4
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
***
1
This act would mandate insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients
2
undergoing chemotherapy to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatments.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004761
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LC004761 - Page 4 of 4