Coverage of Congenital Anomalies: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act in Legislation

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) is a federal bill that would require all health federally regulated insurance products to cover the full treatment of a congenital anomaly or congenital disability until complete restoration of normal function or appearance. ELSA has been a key federal priority for the Legislative Advocacy Committee of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons since the 115th Congress in 2018. Although it has gained momentum, particularly in the 117th Congress, the bill remains stalled. Congressional Budget Office review, conducted in March of 2022, appears to have overestimated this bill's cost for the private sector, secondary to an alleged lack of data on the prevalence of the conditions, extent of treatments and their costs, and the current extent of private sector coverage. The present review highlights the progress of the ELSA bill and serves to illustrate the hurdles involved in passing significant health care bills. This review emphasizes the need for health care professionals to provide their congressional representatives with accurate information on realistic cost of currently covered treatments of congenital defects, the necessary treatments not currently covered by insurance, and additional out-of-pocket costs covered by patients. A concerted effort by plastic surgeons should provide tools for ELSA legislative champions to reintroduce and pass the bill during the 118th Congress. This process highlights the essential role of organized medicine in advocating for the successful passage of health care legislation.