Two Lyme disease bills signed into New York law
On July 21, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed two bills related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. One provides for educational materials written for school age children, and the other requires a public awareness program for how to avoid getting bitten by ticks. The bills were introduced by Senator Sue Serino and Assembly Member Didi Barrett.
“As the mother of a son who still suffers the debilitating symptoms of Lyme after being bitten by a tick as child, I know first-hand just how important it is to provide our children with the information they need to keep themselves safe,” said Senator Serino.
“These diseases are especially dangerous if they go undetected for long periods of time. As a first line of defense against Lyme and TBDs, it is absolutely critical that we give our kids the tools they need to recognize a tick and teach them what to do should they find one.”
The bills, slated to take effect immediately, passed both houses of the legislature almost unanimously. According to Ira Auerbach, of the Hudson Valley Lyme Disease Association, “In this day of partisan politics, it is immensely rewarding to see members of both political parties working together to solve issues for their constituents.”
How about a law requiring insurance companies to cover treatment beyond the two week doxycyclene? ??? Which did not help me or my symptons.
The Massachusetts legislature recently passed a such an insurance law, and we’re all waiting to see if the Governor will sign or veto. If he vetoes it, the legislature might vote to override his veto. Stay tuned for details.
Dear Verna. I just reached out to my local Senator Liz Krueger to talk about that very subject.
Dorothy thank you for posting this great news. Let’s keep moving and push a momentum on change in NYS. Highest incidence rate in country? Correct ?
This is great news, however it would benefit us all much more if we could educate the medical professionals more. I removed a tick from my son took him in to his pediatrician, he was tested and came back 4 bands positive but not the 5 needed to be treated so he suffered for months and the Lyme took over and is now harder to treat. We also took my husband into the er with a tick still attached to him and had to scream and fight with the doctor to get 2 weeks doxy as he stated Lyme is so rare, and even the tick and bulls eye rash on my husband didn’t mean anything. So yes it’s great to educate children, however if you do get bit and no medical provider believes you or will treat you what are you to do?
How about a CURE. Awareness is too late for some of us!!!
I sat outside my local shop as I have for sometime. There are tree’s that hang just above them I have suspected most are carrying tick.
Especially next to mobile phone transmitters.
I found my ankles were being bitten and spiders were bitting me.
I have now given the seat and tree’s a wide berth. In the UK they are encraging more undergrowth. And conceive peices of land so wild life can move around.
I think the wild life is being killed by transmitters. Tick are radiation prof so all it’s doing is make more trails do the Tick can get around. The butterflies and bee have been killed or will not come near.
Not that legislation like this is not important BUT, it seems just as urgent to address those who have already become infected. Is there movement on research and treatment somewhere on the horizon??!!!
Live in Central MA and have chronic Lyme! Cannot work and struggle daily! Our MA Governor Baker just vetoed help we desperately need!
I hope you’ve used Voter Voice to contact your MA legislators about overriding the veto: https://www.votervoice.net/LYMEDISEASE/campaigns/47355/respond
I paid $600 per week because the insurance company decided treatment was not necessary. Two months of Doxy didn’t work, so the pick line went in for another month. apparently they thought the nurse, insertion of the line, and the weekly blood draw didn’t require a nurse. NYS law states that Lyme treatment will be fully continued and covered beyond 28 days if deemed necessary by the Dr. I appealed it 3 times… no luck.Guess the law doesn’t matter as much as the $$$. I pay over $20,000 per year to the insurance company. Bandits!
Senate Bill S541