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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2084 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 805
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to PANDAS/PANS screening in medical/clinical settings.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2084 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 805
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 805) of Patrick M. O'Connor
relative to PANDAS/PANS screening in medical/clinical settings. Financial Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3920 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to PANDAS/PANS screening in medical/clinical settings.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 17R of chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “for”, in line 3, the following
3words:- screening and.
4 SECTION 2. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
5section 242 the following section:-
6 Section 242A. (a) For all children, the department shall establish a program for screening
7of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections,
8hereinafter referred to as PANDAS and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome,
9hereinafter referred to as PANS, which shall adhere to the recommendations developed by a
10medical professional consortium convened by the department for the purposes of researching, 2 of 3
11identifying, and publishing best practice standards for diagnosis and treatment of such disorders
12or syndrome that are accessible for medical professionals and are based on evidence of positive
13patient outcomes.
14 (b) The department shall develop a PANS working criteria to describe a clinically distinct
15presentation defined as follows: (i) abrupt, dramatic onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder or
16severely restricted food intake; (ii) concurrent presence of additional neuropsychiatric symptoms,
17with similarly severe and acute onset, from at least 2 of the following categories: (1) anxiety; (2)
18emotional lability or depression; (3) irritability, aggression or severely oppositional behaviors;
19(4) behavioral or developmental regression; (5) deterioration in school performance related to
20attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms, memory deficits, cognitive
21changes; (6) sensory or motor abnormalities; (7) somatic signs and symptoms, including sleep
22disturbances, enuresis or urinary frequency; and (iii) symptoms are not better explained by a
23known neurologic or medical disorder, such as Sydenham chorea.
24 SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
25section 12GG the following section:-
26 Section 12HH. (a) Each physician duly registered pursuant to section 2, 2A, 9, 9A, or 9B,
27each licensed child psychiatrist or psychologist, each licensed certified social worker or each
28licensed mental health counselor shall screen patients for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric
29disorders associated with streptococcal infections, hereinafter referred to as PANDAS and
30pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, hereinafter referred to as PANS, at the intervals
31and using the methods specified in the regulations adopted pursuant to section 242A of chapter
32111. 3 of 3
33 (b) Each licensed, registered or approved health care facility serving children, including
34but not limited to hospitals and clinics licensed under section 51 of chapter 111 and health
35maintenance organizations approved under the provisions of chapter 176G, shall take appropriate
36steps to ensure that their patients receive such PANDAS/PANS screening.
37 SECTION 4. Section 47NN of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
38Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “for”, in line 3, the following
39words:- screening and.
40 SECTION 5. Section 8OO of chapter 176A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is
41hereby amended by inserting after the word “for”, in line 3, the following words:- screening and.
42 SECTION 6. Section 4OO of chapter 176B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is
43hereby amended by inserting after the word “for”, in line 3, the following words:- screening and.
44 SECTION 7. Section 4GG of chapter 176G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is
45hereby amended by inserting after the word “for”, in line 2, the following words:- screening and.
46 SECTION 8. The department of public health shall promulgate a working criteria and
47regulations to implement the provisions of section 242A of chapter 111 of the General Laws
48within 180 days of the effective date of this act.
49 SECTION 9. Section 3 shall take effect 270 days after the effective date of this act.