Bill > SB297

This bill requires various health insurance providers in West Virginia, including PEIA (Public Employees Insurance Agency), Medicaid, and other health insurance plans, to cover intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for specific pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, specifically pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), and other autoimmune encephalopathies. The coverage will only be available for plans issued or renewed after January 1, 2026 (July 1, 2026 for PEIA), and will require prior authorization from the patient's physician, who must demonstrate that all other treatment options have been exhausted before this therapy can be approved. The bill applies to multiple sections of West Virginia's insurance and human services code, ensuring consistent coverage across different types of health insurance plans and programs, and aims to provide a standardized approach to covering these specialized treatments for complex pediatric neurological conditions that are often challenging to diagnose and treat.