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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 3, 2021 03:27 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Barry J. Jozwiak |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | PANS and PANDAS |
| PANS (Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (PAN Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection) are conditions affecting approximately 1 in every 200 children. Children with PANS and PANDAS tend to manifest symptoms such as tics or other abnormal movements, sever separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, irritability, aggression, personality changes, ADHD, marked deterioration in learning and school performance, extreme oversensitivity of the five senses, sleep disturbances, and development regression, including deterioration in handwriting. I plan to introduce legislation not only establishing the Advisory Council of PANDAS and PANS but also requiring insurance companies in the Commonwealth to include coverage for the treatment of these conditions. The establishment of the Advisory Council will assist the Secretary of Health in matters relating to the research, diagnosis, treatment, and education of PANDAS and PANS. This council will bring much needed information to the forefront as a public health concern. Pennsylvania will join Connecticut, Illinois, and Virginia in establishing an advisory council on this condition. Treatment for these conditions can be excessive and can place a financial burden on the families. Therefore, this legislation will also require insurance companies in the Commonwealth to include coverage for the required medications and treatments. We would be joining Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, and New Hampshire in this regard. |
Introduced as HB1352