CA AB1682

Requires health care service plans and health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to cover scalp cooling treatments prescribed in connection with chemotherapy for cancer patients

Defines scalp cooling as FDA-cleared medical devices applied to the scalp before, during, or after chemotherapy to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss (alopecia)

Adds scalp cooling as a covered benefit under the Medi-Cal program, subject to federal financial participation and necessary federal approvals

Allows coverage to include copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, but requires these costs be no less favorable than those applied to other oncology supportive care services

Excludes non-FDA-cleared cold caps and scalp cooling products from the coverage mandate, and exempts specialized health care service plans from the requirements