West Virginia HB4089: Preservation of hair during chemotherapy. Also known as the “Jessica Huffman Bill”

What the bill says

An act to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding seven new sections, designated §5-16-8b, §9-5-34, §33-15-4a, §33-16-20, §33-24-15, §33-25-23, and §33-25A-37, relating to insurance; and providing definitions; and requiring health insurers to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment. PREAMBLE: THIS LAW IS DESIGNATED AND MAY BE REFERRED TO AS JESSICA HUFFMAN'S LAW. ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INSURANCE ACT. §5-16-8b. Required coverage for scalp cooling system for cancer chemotherapy treatment.

From the enrolled text, March 10, 2026:

AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding seven new sections, designated §5-16-8b, §9-5-34, §33-15-4a, §33-16-20, §33-24-15, §33-25-23, and §33-25A-37, relating to insurance; and providing definitions; and requiring health insurers to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment. PREAMBLE: THIS LAW IS DESIGNATED AND MAY BE REFERRED TO AS JESSICA HUFFMAN'S LAW. ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INSURANCE ACT. §5-16-8b. Required coverage for scalp cooling system for cancer chemotherapy treatment. (a) For the purpose of this section, "scalp cooling system" means any device used to cool the human scalp to prevent or reduce hair loss during cancer chemotherapy treatment, provided that such device is designed and intended for repeated use and is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose. (b) Any insurer who delivers or issues a policy, plan, or contact that is issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, under the provisions of this article and provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for scalp cooling systems used in connection with cancer chemotherapy treatment as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Coverage provided under this section may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance, including copayments, as may be deemed appropriate by the commissioner and …

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