H1249 — An Act relative to PANDAS/PANS screening in medical/clinical settings

Summary

An Act relative to PANDAS/PANS screening in medical/clinical settings

Bill Text

• Full text Current

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes screening programs and requirements for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).

• Section 17R

  for → screening and

  This addition clarifies that screening is included for the services described in the section.

• Chapter 111, Section 242

  Section 242A. (a) For all children, the department shall establish a program for screening of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, hereinafter referred to as PANDAS and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, hereinafter referred to as PANS, which shall adhere to the recommendations developed by a medical professional consortium convened by the department for the purposes of researching, identifying, and publishing best practice standards for diagnosis and treatment of such disorders or syndrome that are accessible for medical professionals and are based on evidence of positive patient outcomes.

  This introduces a new section requiring the establishment of screening programs for PANDAS and PANS.

• Chapter 111, Section 242A

  (b) The department shall develop a PANS working criteria to describe a clinically distinct presentation defined as follows: (i) abrupt, dramatic onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder or severely restricted food intake; (ii) concurrent presence of additional neuropsychiatric symptoms, with similarly severe and acute onset, from at least 2 of the following categories: (1) anxiety; (2) emotional lability or depression; (3) irritability, aggression or severely oppositional behaviors; (4) behavioral or developmental regression; (5) deterioration in school performance related to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms, memory deficits, cognitive changes; (6) sensory or motor abnormalities; (7) somatic signs and symptoms, including sleep disturbances, enuresis or urinary frequency; and (iii) symptoms are not better explained by a known neurologic or medical disorder, such as Sydenham chorea.

  This establishes criteria for recognizing the clinical presentation of PANS.

• Chapter 112, Section 12GG

  Section 12HH. (a) Each physician duly registered pursuant to section 2, 2A, 9, 9A, or 9B, each licensed child psychiatrist or psychologist, each licensed certified social worker or each licensed mental health counselor shall screen patients for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, hereinafter referred to as PANDAS and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, hereinafter referred to as PANS, at the intervals and using the methods specified in the regulations adopted pursuant to section 242A of chapter 111.

  This requires healthcare professionals to screen for PANDAS and PANS.

• Chapter 112, Section 12HH

  (b) Each licensed, registered or approved health care facility serving children, including but not limited to hospitals and clinics licensed under section 51 of chapter 111 and health maintenance organizations approved under the provisions of chapter 176G, shall take appropriate steps to ensure that their patients receive such PANDAS/PANS screening.

  This mandates healthcare facilities to ensure screenings for PANDAS and PANS are conducted.

• Section 47NN

  for → screening and

  This addition clarifies that screening is included for the services described in the section.

• Section 8OO

  for → screening and

  This addition clarifies that screening is included for the services described in the section.

• Section 4OO

  for → screening and

  This addition clarifies that screening is included for the services described in the section.

• Section 4GG

  for → screening and

  This addition clarifies that screening is included for the services described in the section.

Sponsors

• Kate Lipper-Garabedian · Primary

Subjects