Lyme Disease Bill Advances in House

HARRISBURG – Lawmakers in Harrisburg are giving increased attention to Lyme disease, the debilitating disease spread by the deer tick. Pennsylvania consistently ranks near the top of all states in Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease cases. Workers in the green industry are one of the occupations most at risk for contracting Lyme disease, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

In April, the Pennsylvania Senate held hearings on Lyme disease (see April 27 PLNA e-News).

Long-term Care Legislation

On May 5, the House Health Committee reported HB 1033 to the full House. HB 1033 would compel health insurers to fund long-term care for Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease sufferers. The chromic symptoms of tick-borne diseases can persist for many years and extend over a lifetime. The bill would assure that health insurance would continue to cover the costs of treatment beyond the immediate acute phase of the disease.

This bill died in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee last legislative session due to inaction on the part of the committee and strong opposition from the health insurance industry.

Call Your State Representative

PLNA urges its members to call their state representative and ask them to vote yes on HB 1033. To look up your state representative’s contact information, click here.