LymeBlog� News Lexington, KY USA February 25, 2006 By LymeBlog Staff
Lyme and the Law: Florida Lyme Legislation Introduced In Wake of Wyatt Sexton Tragedy
Tallahassee, FL: Bills regarding Lyme disease have been� simultaneously introduced in the Florida State Legislature for the 2006� session.
The two bills, HB� 1013 and SB� 2022, sponsored by State Representative Ed Homan and State Senator Stephen R. Wise, are being called "The Lyme Disease� Insurance Coverage Act".
The bills require certain health insurance� policies and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for� Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment and to provide applicability for authorized� referrals.
The bills are now being reviewed by the Insurance� Committee. � Homan, an Orthopedic Surgeon from Tampa, FL, was first� elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2002. Wise is a second term� State Senator from Jacksonville, FL
The proposed legislation states:
"The Legislature feels a� responsibility to help the citizens of the state who suffer from Lyme disease� and who may not obtain a timely diagnosis or obtain the appropriate treatment,� and to protect the physicians who treat sufferers of Lyme disease, by adopting� legislation that promotes the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease in� Florida."
The bill further states that insurers "may not contest, reverse, or deny� payment for diagnostic testing or long-term antibiotic therapy or other newly� developed evidence-based therapy based upon a physician's order"
� Similar legislation has been introduced in two other states, New York and� California.
The need for such legislation is summed up in the bill introduced by� Homan and Wise stating that, "the lack of insurance coverage for diagnosis and� long-term antibiotic therapies or other newly developed evidence-based therapies� or treatment is a major barrier to adequate medical care for patients with� symptoms compatible with chronic Lyme disease"
According to the bill,� "Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and� other tick-associated diseases are being identified".
Florida's patient community has been instrumental in having this� legislation introduced. Patients, doctors, advocates and constituents across the� state have been asking for insurance mandated coverage of long-term antibiotics� and other newly-developed therapies as deemed medically necessary by the� treating physician for quite some time.
This issue of proper diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease was� brought to the attention of people throughout the State of Florida as well as� the Nation when starting quarterback for FSU (Florida State University), Wyatt� Sexton, had to travel to Pennsylvania to be diagnosed and treated for Lyme� disease in July.
Sexton's football career was ultimately ended when he came down� with the disease last summer and was misdiagnosed and was not properly treated� for more than a month by doctors in Florida.
Lori Hoerl, Founder and� Director of Florida Lyme Advocacy is working closely with Rep. Homan's office� and is available for further comments on the details of this legislation and� other pending advocacy efforts at [email protected].
The Lyme Disease Association, Life Lyme and Pam Marks of Gulf� Coast Advocate have also provided input and support to help get this legislation� introduced.
I thought the same thing Ann when I was emailed this about Florida. Finally, we're getting somewhere. It might be state by state, but at least it's no longer just a Northeast problem.
Of course California and Florida are leaders, so may the rest of the country wake up.
Pam
PS...Ann, did I ever tell you I was born and raised a Buckeye? My parents dragged me to KY at age 12 in '70. But Ohio will always be home.
Posted by Ann-OH (Member # 2020) on :
Yes, Pam, maybe we can even get some people to get midwestern states to wake up and recognize that Lyme disease is here, too.
Nice comments about Ohio. I am a transplant from Iowa, but still love both. I love Kentucky too. And Michigan and.......
Ann-OH
Posted by FightFireWithWater (Member # 5781) on :
Great news, Floridians!
Keep your eye on the prize till this bill is signed into law!
Thanks to all of you whose efforts have led this far including those of you who have been working for years to bring the problem of Lyme disease in Florida to public attention.
Posted by Somerset (Member # 7534) on :
"Ann-OH," This is a dream coming true, "PLEASE" let us know or PM me Ann. I'm speachless, it has to be signed into law. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU,THANK YOU to all that have work so HARD on this bill" "GREATFULLY Yours," Robin from Florida
Posted by Ann-OH (Member # 2020) on :
Robin, these bills have just been introduced and will have to go through all sorts of procedures and committees before they come up for a vote.
You can help by finding out who your state representative and state senator are and contacting them to ask them to support bills, HB 1013 and SB 2022.
You might be able to find out who the members of the committees of the legislature are who will be examining and ruling on the bills and contact them. http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/fgils/flgov.html
I am sure the Florida people will have a program underway to get the bills passed. They sound very organized and have put so much work into this already. I hope all of us will get a chance to help out.
Ann - OH
Posted by Somerset (Member # 7534) on :
"Ann-OH," Contacted State Representatives when bills first came about. Allen Bense's office called me and spoke for about 25 mins. about this dreaded disease. I'm keeping my fingers & toes crossed. Keep in touch, Robin
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
I would like a copy of these...how would I obtain one?
Trout Posted by Ann-OH (Member # 2020) on :
Scout, at the website I gave, I found the following:
Senate 2022: Relating to Lyme Disease/Insurance S2022 GENERAL BILL by Wise (Identical H 1013)
Lyme Disease/Insurance; cites act as "Lyme Disease Insurance Coverage Act"; provides definitions; requires certain health insurance policies & HMO contracts to provide coverage for Lyme disease diagnosis & treatment; provides applicability for referrals made in accordance with procedures authorized by health insurance policies & HMO contracts, etc.
S 2022 02/14/2006 Web Page | PDF House 1013: Relating to Lyme Disease/Insurance
H1013 GENERAL BILL by Homan (Identical S 2022)
Lyme Disease/Insurance; cites act as "Lyme Disease Insurance Coverage Act"; provides definitions; requires certain health insurance policies & HMO contracts to provide coverage for Lyme disease diagnosis & treatment; provides applicability for referrals made in accordance with procedures authorized by health insurance policies & HMO contracts, etc. Creates 381.801, 627.64194; amends 641.31.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2006. 02/07/06 HOUSE Filed 02/23/06 HOUSE Referred to Insurance (CC); Health Care General (HFC); Fiscal Council; Commerce Council
Robin, wow! you are really on this! I wish we had lots of people like you willing to go to the top to get the answers!
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