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An Act To Ensure Health Insurance Coverage for Treatment for Childhood Postinfectious Neuroimmune Disorders Including Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  24-A MRSA §4320-L  is enacted to read:
§ 4320-L. Coverage for treatment of childhood postinfectious neuroimmune disorders including pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome
 
1.  Required coverage.     A carrier offering a health plan in this State shall provide coverage for treatment of childhood postinfectious neuroimmune disorders including pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. Treatments that must be covered include, but are not limited to, long-term antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, steroids, plasmapheresis and psychopharmacological interventions. Coverage may not be excluded due to the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalopathy or autoimmune encephalitis.
 
2.  Application.     The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.
Sec. 2. Application. The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2020. For purposes of this Act all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires health insurance coverage for treatment of childhood postinfectious neuroimmune disorders, a group of medical conditions that includes autoinflammatory encephalopathic conditions including pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. The treatments authorized include certain treatments described as the standard of care in a series of articles in the 2017 Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Volume 27, Number 7. The requirements apply to all individual and group policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2020.