Illinois PANS PANDAS Updates
Please sign a Proponent Witness Slip
HB2472- requires the Director of Insurance to solicit information and data from health insurance carriers regarding insurance coverage for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders. Provides the types of data that shall be collected by the Director. Provides that the Director shall analyze the information and submit a report on or before November 15, 2021 to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Governor, the chairpersons of the House and Senate committees having jurisdiction over health and human services issues, and the legislative representatives serving on the advisory council on pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute neuropsychiatric syndrome.
https://my.ilga.gov/Hearing/HearingDetail/17956
HB2930– Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, an insured shall have a cause of action for liquidated damages in the amount of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, against any entity issuing a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that fails to provide the coverage required for treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
https://my.ilga.gov/Hearing/HearingDetail/17956
HB1910– Provides that a child shall not be considered neglected solely because the child’s parent or other person responsible for his or her welfare has a difference of opinion with a medical professional regarding the safety, efficacy, or advisability of various treatment protocols specific to that child. Provides that a child shall not be considered neglected solely because a child’s parent or other person responsible for the child’s welfare objects to: (i) a recommended vaccination schedule or the dosing schedule for vaccines; (ii) the administration of ophthalmic antibiotics or silver nitrate in newborns; (iii) the administration of, timing of, or route of administration for vitamin K in newborns; or other specified medical care. Provides that requests for minimally invasive diagnostic tests for the child and a diagnosis of or treatment of pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections shall not be considered an indication of neglect. Provides that if a medical professional complies with an objection or request set forth in the amendatory Act by a child’s parent or other person responsible for the child’s welfare, no liability for any such decision may attach to the medical professional. Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that a child’s parent or other person responsible for the child’s welfare has a right to be free from threats by medical professionals to refer a child to protective services, unless the medical professional has a good faith basis to believe that the child otherwise meets the definition of an abused child or a neglected child as defined under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules.
https://my.ilga.gov/Hearing/HearingDetail/17959
Witness Slip Tips
Section 1 IDENTIFICATION- Fill this out as you normally would for yourself. You do not have to put in a firm or business if you are a SAHM, or are otherwise uncomfortable identifying where you work. Just be prepared to put something in the box.
Section 2 REPRESENTATION- You can represent this group, PANDAS/PANS Advocacy and Support of Illinois, or just yourself, “self,” or “PANS families,” or whatever you feel represents you. But you do have to put something in this box.
Section 3 POSITION- Please, please, please check the PROPONENT box. YOU SUPPORT THIS BILL. (Checking opponent means that you do NOT support the bill; you oppose it).
Section 4 TESTIMONY- Check “Record of Appearance.”
Then check that you agree to the terms at bottom left, and then click the “create slip” at bottom right.
THANK YOU!