NEWS: Ask Gov. Cuomo to pass NY's Lyme bill
New York’s Lyme doctor protection bill was passed by the legislature months ago. It can’t become law unless the governor signs it.
From New York activists working on passage of this bill:
Despite continued scientific evidence that Lyme disease can persist after initial treatment, doctors who will treat persistent Lyme are targeted by costly disciplinary board investigations which can lead to the loss of their licenses.
The medical disciplinary board of NYS, (the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, the OPMC) has openly admitted to us that they “get their best complaints from the insurance companies.” And, obviously, long term treatment of Lyme disease, often including intravenous antibiotics, is far more expensive for the insurance companies.
A bill to stop this harassment has been passed by the legislature and awaits Governor Cuomo’s signature. Please help Lyme patients get this bill signed into law.
1) If you’re a resident of NY State, please go to:
https://www.votervoice.net/NYSCOALITION/Campaigns/36501/Respond
Please remember to add a personal note to this form so that it is counted as a letter – either your own experience with Lyme or that of a person you know or just your desire for medical freedom.
2) If you don’t live in NYS, please call 518-474-8390 and ask that Governor Cuomo sign S7854 the Lyme protection bill, so that physicians are free to treat chronic Lyme disease without fear of losing their licenses.
To read the bill, go to: http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S7854-2013
I hAVE A FRIEND WHOSE GRANDSON HAS THIS DISEASE. PLEASE SUPPORT THE BILL……….jOHN
I looked into this a few months ago. Apparently, if Gov. Cuomo did not sign the law within the required period (~ a week or two), the bill would AUTOMATICALLY either pass or be “pocket vetoed” (not pass). Whether not signing resulted in passing or a pocket veto depended on when the bill was ‘presented’ to Gov. Cuomo in relation to the end of the legislative term (I don’t remember exactly, but I seem to recall the cutoff was something like 10 days after the legislative session ended). So the deal should already be sealed. (I am a former lawyer) Does anyone have any more info on this?
OK, in this article, Cuomo seems to imply he pocket vetoed the bill. But he says he will sign it once a ‘memo’ is sent to him that corrects something he terms a ‘technicality.’
Oops, forgot to include the article link.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/health/lyme-disease/2014/10/29/cuomo-sign-lyme-bill/18135435/