Call To Action for 2025 Legislation
Urgent Action Needed! Families battling #PANS/#PANDAS deserve insurance coverage for life-changing treatments. #SB205, the companion bill to #HB124, is in the hands of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, and we need your help! Email or call the Senators today and ask them to support SB205. Every voice counts!
Address letters to: Larry Walker III, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance & Labor, and members of the Committee on Insurance & Labor
Email Senate Insurance and Labor Committee now:
larry.walker(at)senate.ga.gov, marty.harbin(at)senate.ga.gov, kay.kirkpatrick(at)senate.ga.gov, bill.cowsert(at)senate.ga.gov, steve.gooch(at)senate.ga.gov, ed.harbison(at)senate.ga.gov, mike.hodges(at)senate.ga.gov, david.lucas(at)senate.ga.gov, nikki.merritt(at)senate.ga.gov, randy.robertson(at)senate.ga.gov, shawn.still(at)senate.ga.gov
For more information: Contact Heather Ward – SEPPA President, via email.
ASPIRE Letters of Support
- ASPIRE Board Support Letter – ASPIRE Support for Georgia SB205
- ASPIRE PAB Support Letter – ASPIRE Professional Advisory Support Georgia SB205
2025 Bills
Watch 11alive.com News Coverage.
How a Georgia House bill could create options in treating a devastating pediatric diagnosis
Watch House Session Day 22: 02.24.25
Thank you to Representative Scoggins for bringing the bill to the floor in honor of your granddaughter. Thank you to Representative Lumsden for sharing the story of your granddaughter and supporting the bill. Thank you to Representative Clark for supporting the bill and supporting one of our dear families.
SB205 – Insurance; pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders; require coverage for healthcare services
Bill Status & Language – Link
Summary: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 and Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to insurance and the state employees’ health insurance plan and post-employment health benefit fund, respectively, so as to require coverage for healthcare services for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) in accordance with nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines; to provide for definitions; to allow for deductibles; to prohibit special deductibles; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
HB124 – Insurance; require coverage for healthcare services for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders; provisions
Bill Status & Language – Link
Summary: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 and Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to insurance and the state employees’ health insurance plan and post-employment health benefit fund, respectively, so as to require coverage for healthcare services for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) in accordance with nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines; to provide for definitions; to allow for deductibles; to prohibit special deductibles; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
General Legislative Information
- How to talk to your state representative
- Find your State Representative and State Senator in your district
- ASPIRE Legislative Action: Information for Legislators Toolkit
Past Bills
Key Elements of HB140
HB140 had strong sponsors from the House Health Committee. During the 2022-23 legislative session, the House and Senate Health committee passed HB1484 unanimously. Unfortunately, due to time constraints at the end of the 2022 legislative session, the bill died on the table.
HB140 is a very important step forward for minimizing the suffering of children and families affected by PANS/PANDAS in Georgia and around the country. So grateful for the leadership of Chairman Lee Hawkins and the long-term support and guidance of Rep. Karen Bennett and all of HB140’s sponsors. Stay tuned to find out how you can help.
Key Elements of HB1484:
- Diagnose and treat up to 100 kids each year for three years
- Provide outreach to pediatric providers to help them quickly recognize, diagnose, and appropriately treat PANS PANDAS
- Give providers guidance on coding claims to allow the Dept of Community Health to track the
ASPIRE Letters of Support:
- ASPIRE Board Support Letter – ASPIRE Support for Georgia HB1484
- ASPIRE PAB Support Letter – ASPIRE Professional Advisory Support Georgia HB1484
Gabriella True
