5430 AMH HC H2558.1

SB 5430 - H COMM AMD ADOPTED 4/12/01

By Committee on Health Care

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The legislature finds the following:

    (a) Alopecia areata and its variants, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis, are common, noncontagious diseases that affect an estimated two million Americans.  They are diseases of the hair follicle with results ranging from large patches of baldness to the total loss of all body hair.  This hair loss can be acute and short-lived, occurring in just days or weeks, or chronic with years of regrowth in some sites and progression to new sites.

    (b) Alopecia areata and its variants are associated with an alteration in the immunological system, but their cause is unknown.

    (c) The use of cranial hair prostheses may provide relief to children with alopecia areata, totalis, and universalis.

    (2) It is the intent of the legislature to provide relief to the children who are victims of alopecia areata, totalis, and universalis.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:

    Within appropriated funds, the department of social and health services shall establish a program within the department to provide payment for cranial hair prostheses for patients under eighteen years of age suffering from alopecia areata, totalis, or universalis, provided that such services are delivered upon the recommendation of the patient's physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner as authorized by the nursing care quality assurance commission pursuant to chapter 18.79 RCW, or physician assistant pursuant to chapter 18.71A RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2001, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void."

    Correct the title.

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