Families fight for coverage

Good morning!

Lilo Stainton talked to parents for a story today on rare, linked disorders called PANS and PANDAS.

The families say victims suffer from obsessive-compulsive tics and potentially deadly psychotic symptoms — but that some in the medical community view the disorders with skepticism.

“We have this happening to our children and sometimes we have to defend the diagnosis,” said one mom, Ashley Moos.

The families are pushing New Jersey to require insurance companies to cover treatment of the disorders. Matthew Westfield told Lilo that his son received monthly infusions over nearly two years and is largely in remission now.

“His life was saved because of it. We were lucky,” Westfield said.

Read more from Lilo.

Immigration: Mixed-status immigrant households are due for a big change this month as new federal rules take effect that will allow immigration officers to consider whether an applicant for lawful permanent residency will request enrollment in non-cash public benefits like Medicaid. Immigrant advocates say they fear some will not seek benefits for their U.S. children and other dependents as a result.

ICYMI: From Friday, Lilo was at the Sept. 11 memorial in NYC for the 25th anniversary commemoration of the deadly terror attacks. “We come every year because this is where they are. Their souls are here,” said Freyda Markow, of Brooklyn, who lost her cousin, New York City Firefighter George Cain.

Weather: New Jersey saw intense flooding Sunday that led to closed roads and forced some water rescues, via Michael Sol Warren at Gothamist. A weather station in Haledon recorded more than four inches of rain in three hours.