Connecticut mandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling therapy

Connecticut has enacted a law requiring insurance coverage for provider-delivered scalp cooling therapy starting Jan. 1, 2027, expanding access for cancer patients seeking to reduce chemotherapy-related hair loss. The move makes Connecticut the fifth state to adopt statewide coverage as similar bills advance in other states.

Why it matters: - Connecticut’s new coverage mandate could lower out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients who want scalp cooling therapy during chemotherapy. - The law expands access to a treatment used to help reduce hair loss, a side effect that can carry emotional and psychological burdens. - Connecticut is now the fifth state with statewide insurance coverage for scalp cooling therapy, signaling broader policy momentum.

What happened: - Connecticut enacted House Bill 5374 on May 28, 2026. - Gov. Ned Lamont signed the bill into law. - The law requires insurance coverage for provider-delivered scalp cooling therapy beginning Jan. 1, 2027. - Connecticut joins New York, Louisiana, Maryland and West Virginia in requiring statewide coverage.

The details: - Scalp cooling is an FDA-cleared treatment used during chemotherapy to help reduce hair loss. - The treatment is available in more than 900 cancer centers across the United States. - The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® lists scalp cooling as a Category 2A recommendation. - In January 2026, three CPT® Category I codes for scalp cooling took effect. - The new codes created a standardized reporting and reimbursement pathway for provider-delivered scalp cooling services. - That billing structure supports broader adoption of insurance-based reimbursement across oncology practices. - Connecticut’s action follows earlier legislative wins this year in Maryland and West Virginia. - Similar legislation remains under consideration this session in California, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Between the lines: - The Connecticut law reflects a wider shift in cancer care policy toward managing treatment side effects, not only treating the disease itself. - Gov. Lamont backed the bill in testimony, citing the emotional toll of chemotherapy-related hair loss and the value of preserving hair during treatment. - The combination of state mandates and new billing codes could make scalp cooling easier to access and easier to reimburse. - Richard Paxman, chief executive officer of Paxman, said the legislation recognizes that cancer care affects more than the disease and expands access to a treatment that can help preserve normalcy and confidence during chemotherapy.

What’s next: - Insurance coverage in Connecticut is set to begin Jan. 1, 2027. - Advocates and industry stakeholders are expected to keep pushing similar coverage bills in other states this legislative session. - Paxman says it will continue working with legislators, patient advocates and clinicians to expand access and reduce financial barriers.

The bottom line: - Connecticut’s new law adds momentum to a growing state-by-state effort to make scalp cooling a more routine and affordable part of cancer care.