An Act To Ensure Health Insurance Coverage for Treatment for Childhood Postinfectious Neuroimmune Disorders Including Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome

Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §4320-L  is enacted to read:

§ 4320-L.  Coverage for treatment of childhood postinfectious neuroimmune disorders including pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome

Sec. 2. Application. The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2020. For purposes of this Act all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

summary

This bill requires health insurance coverage for treatment of childhood postinfectious neuroimmune disorders, a group of medical conditions that includes autoinflammatory encephalopathic conditions including pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. The treatments authorized include certain treatments described as the standard of care in a series of articles in the 2017 Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Volume 27, Number 7. The requirements apply to all individual and group policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2020.