Mass General Brigham to Close PANS/PANDAS Program
The pediatric specialty program will close in January 2027; lead psychiatrist Dr. Kyle Williams is separately leaving the hospital at the end of 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Autism
Live Poll
Do you trust local hospital systems to maintain adequate care for children with complex, chronic conditions?
Mass General Brigham plans to close its PANS/PANDAS program in January 2027. Following the closure announcement, families learned that Dr. Kyle Williams would leave MGB on December 31, 2026.
Why it matters
The closure of this specialized clinic removes a key resource for patients managing these complex, infection-triggered neuro-psychiatric conditions. While Massachusetts law mandates insurance coverage for these treatments, the loss of this program leaves families to find care elsewhere.
Dr. Yujuan Zhang, a pediatric rheumatologist at Tufts Medical Center, has managed care for more than 580 PANS/PANDAS patients over the past two years. The state of Massachusetts currently requires insurance plans to cover treatment for these conditions.
The players
Dr. Kyle Williams
A psychiatrist who has served as the lead physician for the PANS/PANDAS program at Mass General Brigham.
Mass General Brigham
An integrated academic healthcare system that operates multiple hospitals and specialty programs throughout Massachusetts.
Dr. Yujuan Zhang
A pediatric rheumatologist based at Tufts Medical Center who specializes in treating complex pediatric autoimmune conditions.
1 / 1
The details
Treatment for these conditions often involves addressing infection triggers through antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications. Severe instances may necessitate intravenous immunoglobulin infusions combined with psychiatric therapy or specialized medication.
Timeline
August 2026: Mass General Brigham notifies families that its PANS/PANDAS program will close in January 2027.
October 2026: Families learn Dr. Kyle Williams will leave Mass General Brigham on December 31, 2026.
January 2027: Mass General Brigham closes its PANS/PANDAS program.
Health Landscape
This facility closure complicates the regional adherence to the Massachusetts PANS/PANDAS insurance coverage mandate. The move marks a departure from the established goal of providing consistent access to specialized care for patients with these specific neurological conditions.
Patients currently enrolled in the program must secure new providers before the January 2027 closure date to avoid interruptions in their care. Families should contact their insurance providers to verify which alternative pediatric rheumatology or psychiatry specialists remain in-network.
The takeaway
Patients needing specialized care for PANS and PANDAS should begin the process of finding new medical providers well before the scheduled January closure. Massachusetts residents should also consult their insurance carriers to confirm that any new specialists remain covered under the state's mandate.
Further reading
Learn more about the local resources and treatment developments in the Boston Autism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Boston Globe.
Live Poll
Do you trust local hospital systems to maintain adequate care for children with complex, chronic conditions?
