(a) The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has partnered with Arkansas Children's Hospital and the National Institute of Mental Health for the establishment and operation of a clinic that currently serves patients with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, also known as “PANS”, and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections, also known as “PANDAS”.
(b)
(1) The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences shall organize an interdisciplinary panel incorporating all components of those affected by PANS/PANDAS, including without limitation working with national organizations.
(2) The interdisciplinary panel under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall include:
(A) A member at large from the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council;
(B) A member at large who is a medical professional with a minimum experience of two (2) years working with PANS/PANDAS patients and who is recommended by the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council with final approval by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and
(C) A member at large who is a medical director or medical officer from an insurance company licensed in this state to assist in the development of diagnostic criteria for future insurance coverage purposes.
(c) An interdisciplinary team shall be established to create a protocol for the treatment of and diagnostic framework for the coverage of PANS and PANDAS by June 1, 2019, to allow for the assignment of an International Classification of Diseases code, such as an ICD-9 code or other applicable medical code for insurance coverage purposes.
(d) The interdisciplinary team shall report to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce, and the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce no later than August 31, 2019.
(e) Once the interdisciplinary team determines appropriate diagnostic criteria for the protocol, a final report with recommendations shall be submitted to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce, the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce, and the General Assembly to include recommendations concerning mandating insurance coverage for the treatment of PANS and PANDAS for the next scheduled regular session that convenes after the submission of the report or the Governor is encouraged to add the recommendation to the call of any special session that is convened before the next scheduled regular session.
(f) The expectation for the interdisciplinary team is that:
(1) Every available tool will be utilized to make healthcare services for the treatment of PANS and PANDAS available statewide through the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences network and available services, including telemedicine; and
(2) Once the interdisciplinary team determines the diagnostic criteria for purposes of insurance coverage, all insurance companies and health benefit plans that are licensed in this state shall provide coverage for the treatment of PANS and PANDAS diagnosed according to the established diagnostic criteria recommended by the interdisciplinary team.
(g) The goal of the interdisciplinary team is to have the diagnostic criteria finalized and ready to be presented at the December 2019 meeting of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce, and the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce.