Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to health insurance coverage for specified pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders and postinfectious autoimmune encephalopathy
Sponsored by Sen. Annette Sweeney (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 10, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 12, 2025
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to health insurance coverage for pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), and postinfectious autoimmune encephalopathy. The bill defines “PANS” as a clinically defined disorder characterized by the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms or eating restrictions accompanied by two or more symptoms of either one or both of acute behavioral deterioration and motor and sensory changes.
Read the full explanation
“PANDAS” is defined as a term used to describe a subset of children and adolescents within the broader PANS classification. The bill requires a health carrier that offers individual, group, or small group contracts, policies, or plans in this state that provide for third-party payment or prepayment of health or medical expenses to offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of PANS, PANDAS, and postinfectious autoimmune encephalopathy as recommended by a covered person’s health care professional as medically necessary and that is consistent with the standard of medical care and protocols established in collaboration with the national institute of mental health, the children’s postinfectious autoimmune encephalopathy center of excellence, and the PANDAS physicians network. Treatment may include but is not limited to antibiotics, drugs and behavioral therapies to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms, plasma exchange, and immunoglobulin. Additional requirements concerning the coverage are detailed in the bill. The bill shall not be construed to prohibit a health carrier from requesting treatment notes, and anticipated treatment duration outcome information, from a covered person’s health care professional. The bill applies to third-party payment provider contracts, policies, or plans delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2026, by the third-party payment providers enumerated in the bill. The bill specifies the types of specialized health-related insurance which are not subject to the bill’s coverage requirements. The commissioner of insurance is required to adopt rules to administer the bill.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 12, 2025. On February 17, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§514C.37
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
1 for · 2 against · 11 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 288 Relating to health insurance coverage for specified pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric …90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 2314 Relating to health insurance coverage for specified pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric …91st General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.