HB292

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.