New Number, Same Objective: HR 5936 re-numbered for 2009.

On February 25, 2009, HR 1142 was introduced, continuing the momentum that was gaining on HR 5936 as Congress adjourned for 2008. For the first time in the history of our organization, legislation was introduced to improve health insurance coverage for hair prostheses with HR 5936. Although Congress did not act on the legislation, nearly 20 Representatives quickly co-sponsored the legislation, showing their commitment to supporting people with alopecia areata/

HR 1142, introduced by Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA), would require Medicaid to pay for one scalp prosthesis annually for those with the most serious forms of the disease (Medicaid is the government’s health insurance program for low-income Americans). Because many private health plans base their coverage decisions on Medicaid (and Medicaire), enactment of HR 1142 will make it easier for people with alopecia areata to obtain coverage for hair prostheses.