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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB292

Insurance Coverage for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This law requires health insurers in Alaska to cover specific treatments for children with pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.

What it does

  • Requires insurance plans to pay for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
  • Mandates that coverage includes standard treatments such as antimicrobials, medications, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.
  • Prohibits insurers from denying or delaying care because a patient received similar treatment before or was diagnosed under a different name like autoimmune encephalopathy.
  • Stops insurers from requiring patients to try symptom-only treatments before approving therapies that target the immune system.
  • Ensures coverage for out-of-state treatment if services are not available in Alaska and bans denying care based on age.
  • Adds these disorders as an optional service under state medical assistance programs, pending federal approval.

Who it affects

  • Health insurance companies that sell plans in the State of Alaska.
  • Children diagnosed with pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections or pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
  • The Department of Health, which must submit plan changes to federal officials for approval.

Limits and unknowns

  • The part of the law adding coverage for state medical assistance programs only takes effect if federal officials approve it by January 1, 2027.
  • Insurers may still ask for treatment notes and use standard approval processes to check if care is medically necessary.

Plain language

Terms to know

Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections
A condition in children marked by sudden obsessive-compulsive symptoms or tics, a pattern of coming and going symptoms, young age at start, neurological issues, and a link to group A strep infection.
Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome
A disorder defined by the sudden start of obsessive-compulsive symptoms or eating restrictions along with rapid behavioral decline in at least two areas like anxiety, school performance, mood, or sleep.
Immunomodulating therapy
Medical treatments that change how the immune system works to help treat these disorders.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

INSURANCE: PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCH DISORDERS An Act relating to insurance coverage for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK2427
  2. (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE2314
  3. (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C2314
  4. (H) FN3: INDETERMINATE(DOH)2275
  5. (H) FN2: (CED)2275
  6. (H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)2275
  7. (H) DP: CARRICK, SADDLER, FRIER, D.NELSON, HALL, FIELDS2275
  8. (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 6DP2275
  9. (H) Moved CSHB 292(L&C) Out of CommitteeText
  10. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  11. (H) Heard & HeldText
  12. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  13. (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>Text
  14. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  15. (H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)1870
  16. (H) AM: SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE1870
  17. (H) NR: PRAX, GRAY1870
  18. (H) DP: FIELDS, MEARS, MINA1870
  19. (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) NEW TITLE 3DP 2NR 2AM1870
  20. (H) Moved CSHB 292(HSS) Out of CommitteeText