Rep. Ayanna Pressley Supports The Wigs as Durable Medical Equipment Act

On October 1, 2021, House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern and Representative Ayanna Pressley reintroduced the H.R. 3332 bipartisan bill (also referred to as Wigs as Durable Medical Equipment Act) to their colleagues. The bill was first introduced in 2018. The bill was created to help individuals experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy and alopecia. (Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where medicine is used to kill cancer cells. Alopecia is an immune disease that attacks hair follicles). The bill proposes Medicare to cover the price of wigs (also referred to as cranial prosthetics) for people experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy and alopecia. To do so, the title XVIII of the Social Security Act would have to be amended.

During the reintroduction of the bill, Pressley spoke about her personal experience with alopecia. Pressley first revealed her Alopecia Universalis diagnosis in 2019. 

According to a statement released by McGovern’s office, Pressely stated:

“Since I first revealed my alopecia diagnosis, I’ve been intentional about creating space and creating community for those of us who have medical conditions that impact our hair — and this bill is a continuation of those efforts.” 

“Every person living with Alopecia, battling cancer, or facing another medical condition that leads to hair loss, should be able to access wigs and other head coverings. Our bill is responsive and sends a powerful message to these communities: we see you, you belong, and you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. I am grateful to my friend Congressman McGovern for his partnership on this deeply personal and critical legislation”.

You can read her full statement here.

For more information about the bill click here.

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