Board of Health, Legislative Action &
Discussion Panels : Massachusetts

2/19/2014

Dear Friends of PANDAS Network,

Welcome to this special Massachusetts edition of the PANDAS Network newsletter! It may be cold outside, but things are heating up in the state of Massachusetts!

Read below to learn more about the exciting events taking place including a PANDAS/strep related discussion with the Board of Health, panel discussion opportunities for parents and providers, and upcoming legislative action.

We are proud of our Massachusetts parents and providers for such wonderful movements forward!

With Sincere Appreciation,

The PANDAS Network Team

Duxbury Epidemic Management:

A Discussion with the Board of Health

"Due to the abundance of strep-related illnesses, including P.A.N.D.A.S. (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), reported at the schools, the Board of Health will discuss ways to quantify the data and implement plans to help minimize the risk of exposure to strep, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Duxbury Town Hall Mural Room."

This type of meeting and discussion is the first of its kind, not only in MA, but across the nation. Information on PANDAS/PANS will be presented by leading PANDAS/PANS provider, Peggy Chapman, CNS, B.C., P.C.

To learn more about this upcoming event, please visit the following link:

http://duxbury.wickedlocal.com/article/20140214/NEWS/140217246/12445/LIFESTYLE#sthash.7EjQdKlt.dpuf

Legislative Action for PANDAS/PANS: Massachusetts

Massachusetts PANDAS/PANS legislation has been scheduled for a hearing before the Joint Committee on Financial Services on Wednesday March 5 at 1 PM. Proposed Bill H. 984 is titled "An Act relative to insurance coverage for PANDAS/PANS".

Thank you to Heather Punska and Jacob Masenior for spearheading this effort!

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

To learn more about this Bill and how you can help, visit:

pandasnetwork.org/malegislation

Upcoming Expert Discussion Panels
for Providers and Parents

Two panel discussions in Massachusetts will be taking place on April 6 for parents and the general public and on April 7 for providers. Each event will feature the following PANS/ PANDAS Specialists:

Susan Swedo, M.D.Chief Pediatrics & Developmental Neuroscience Branch at the NIMH
Madeleine Cunningham, PhD; Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Moleculera Labs
Beth Latimer, M.D. Pediatric, Adolescent and Adult Neurologist
Nancy O'Hara, M.D. Pediatrician, Center for Integrative Health
Mark Pasternack, M.D. Unit Chief, Pediatric Infectious Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital

For Parents and General Public:

A special Q and A event will take place Sunday, April 6, 2014 from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm in Quincy, Massachusetts.

To learn more about this event and to register, please visit:

http://www.nepandasparents.com/eventsforparents.html

For Providers:

A Provider Breakfast and Discussion Panel will take place Monday, April 7, 2014. Continental breakfast will begin at 7am followed by a panel discussion from 7:30am-9:30am.

This is an informative breakfast with local and national PANS & PANDAS specialists discussing their treatment protocols, latest research findings, case studies and answering your questions. This is a great opportunity for doctors, psychiatrists, physician's assistants and anyone in the medical community interested in learning more about PANS/PANDAS.

To learn more about this event and to register, please visit:

http://www.nepandasparents.com/eventsfordoctors.html

In This Issue

Duxbury Epidemic Management

Legislative Action for PANDAS/PANS

Upcoming Expert Discussion Panels

Support
PANDAS Network!

Registration Open!

Quick Links

Website

Support Groups
Provider List

Board of Directors

Diana Pohlman

Vickie Blavat

Dr. Beth Latimer

Amy Smith, NP, MS

Maggie Gold-Seelig, Esq.

Cathy Witkos

Hayley Kamin Flack

Advisor to the Board:

Dr. Susan Swedo