U.S. Congress & Areolas
Congress finally addresses the elephant in the room…
H.R.469 – Comprehensive Breast Reconstruction Act of 2021
According to this bill, entered into the house on 25 January 2021, nipple-areola tattoo is now recognized my federal and state insurers.
“To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for health coverage of nipple-areolar complex tattooing in connection with reconstructive surgery following mastectomy and to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend coverage of certain breast reconstructive services following mastectomy under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.” (Text - H.R.469 – 117th Congress, 2021-2022)
Check out the bill by clicking on the link in the references list below…
This new bill has added some long overdue updates to include reimbursement for nipple-areola tattoo to be covered by not only physicians, but also nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and state licensed tattoo artists.
This new bill does not cover non-mastectomy associated areola restoration from either trauma or non-mastectomy-associated surgical scars. Including breast lifts and breast augmentation. It also does not cover female to male top surgery.
Beyond this, there are still coverage specific requirements that will be necessary to qualify for coverage for those who are covered under this new bill. Also, insurance may not cover the complete cost of nipple-areola tattoo services. As a result, many talented artists will recommend that you seek out an artist based upon their skill level and not insurance coverage.
That said, as an experienced and licensed medical professional, I highly recommend that the artist you choose not only have the skill level you are seeking, but also screen them to ensure they have a true in-depth medical knowledge and appropriate healthcare experience/exposure to understand the complexity of tissue exposed to radiation, or burns and scars; as applicable.
REFERENCES
Text - H.R.469 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Comprehensive Breast Reconstruction Act of 2021, H.R.469, 117th Cong. (2021), http://www.congress.gov/
