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Committee approves amendment and advances bill to cover diagnosis and treatment for Klystra syndrome under TennCare
Summary
House Bill 0502, as amended, passed out of the House Insurance Committee with a voice vote and roll call (17-0). The bill directs the TennCare division to provide coverage for diagnosis (including genetic testing) and treatment of Klystra syndrome in the same manner and extent as coverage for autism and Down syndrome.
House Bill 0502 cleared the Tennessee House Insurance Committee on Feb. 25 after an amendment was attached and a roll-call vote of 17-0, sending the bill to Calendar and Rules.
Chairlady Littleton introduced the bill as a measure to authorize the TennCare division to provide coverage and benefits for diagnosis (including genetic testing) and treatment of Klystra syndrome "in the same manner and in the same extent as the division provides coverage for autism and Down syndrome," according to her presentation.
Littleton told the committee Klystra is very rare — she said fewer than 1,000 diagnoses exist nationwide and eight cases are known in the United States, with two in Tennessee — and that affected families sought recognition of Klystra as its own diagnosis rather than being categorized under autism or Down syndrome.
"They just want Klystra to be noticed and known as Klystra and not as Down syndrome or autism," Littleton said. She asked the committee to approve the amendment (number 003665); members agreed and then approved the amended bill by roll call.
The clerk reported 17 ayes and 0 nays. The committee recorded no further questions after the amendment was added; Littleton thanked the chairman and committee for their consideration.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 0502 (as amended) — amendment 003665 adopted; roll call 17-0; forwarded to Calendar and Rules.
The committee did not discuss funding specifics or implementation timelines during the hearing; the bill’s language instructs TennCare to provide coverage "in the same manner and in the same extent" as existing covered conditions if enacted.
