New bill would require coverage for certain pediatric conditions

State Reps. Martin Howrylak and Aaron Miller are co-sponsoring bills introduced last week advocating for kids with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and a similar disease called pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder.

PANS occurs when an infection or other factor causes inflammation on a child’s brain, causing life-altering symptoms that appear identical to autism. Current law allows medical insurance companies to deny treatment to families whose child is diagnosed with PANS.

House Bill 5035, introduced by Rep. Howrylak, requires health insurers to provide coverage for the treatment of PANS and PANDAS. A similar proposal was signed into law in Illinois last year and there are several other states working on legislation related to this issue.

House Bill 5036, introduced by Miller, requires the creation of the Advisory Council on PANDAS within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

In Michigan, families have experienced challenges securing treatment for their children with PANS. The Troyer family, from Burr Oak, were one of the few lucky enough to receive behavioral and medical treatment for their son, Landry.