2026 -- S 2455

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LC003420

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

     

     Introduced By: Senators LaMountain, Bissaillon, Patalano, Murray, Felag, Urso,
Appollonio, DiPalma, Britto, and Burke

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance

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Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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     (a) As used in this section, the phrase "scalp cooling systems" means any medical device

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that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and designed to cool the human

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scalp to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced or related alopecia before, during, and/or after

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chemotherapy administration for cancer treatment.

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     (b) Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual

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or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this

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state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage to individuals diagnosed with cancer and

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undergoing chemotherapy treatments for scalp cooling systems.

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

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     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

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     (2) Disability income;

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     (3) Accident only;

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     (4) Long-term care;

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     (5) Medicare supplement;

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     (6) Limited benefit health;

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     (7) Specified disease indemnity;

 

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

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     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service

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Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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     (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:

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     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

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     (2) Disability income;

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     (3) Accident only;

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     (4) Long-term care;

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     (5) Medicare supplement;

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     (6) Limited benefit health;

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     (7) Specified disease indemnity;

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

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     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

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     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

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Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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     (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.

 

LC003420 - Page 2 of 4

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

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     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

3

     (2) Disability income;

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     (3) Accident only;

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     (4) Long-term care;

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     (5) Medicare supplement;

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     (6) Limited benefit health;

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     (7) Specified disease indemnity;

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

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     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

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     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance

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Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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     (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

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     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

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     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

***

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     This act would mandate insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients

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undergoing chemotherapy to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatments.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003420

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LC003420 - Page 4 of 4