Great News -- even with insurance companies issuing major opposition blasts over the last day to all House representatives, House Bill 272 PASSED today!!
The bill retains the insurance mandate. Rep. Hess (the sponsor) was not willing to remove the insurance requirement. It passed the House about an hour ago (187-8). STEP 2: URGENT ACTION#2: CALL / EMAIL YOUR SENATOR and THIS WEEK: ScrIpt and link to your SENATORS below.
SCRIPT: I understand that House Bill 272 was passed in the house today (10/2) and is now headed to the Senate. It is crucial that you vote YES for this bill. PA is #1 in cases, and the cases keep increasing.
SHARE an OVERVIEW of your STORY: the impact of PA DOING NOTHING has had on you.
SHARE: why EARLY and ACCURATE diagnosis, and awareness of PREVENTION would have changed your circumstances. Emphasize that PA MUST Act - that it has been too long - we must start creating better public awareness and prevention at a MINIMUM. Tell them why INSURANCE coverage would have helped address your case and the financial impact of the disease.
ASK: where they stand on the bill and if you can count on their YES vote. If not, why not? If they are up for election, tell them there is no better way to protect their constituents, especially the children and youth (ages 5-14 most impacted).
START LETTING YOUR SENATORS KNOW THIS BILL MUST BE ACTED ON IN THE SENATE NOW THAT IT HAS PASSED THE HOUSE -- THEY CANNOT SIT ON IT!!!! ACTION IS CRITICAL!!
THX FOR YOUR ACTION Julia Wagner Lyme Action PA
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
BEAUTIFUL BILL! REALLY NICE!
Before writing or calling please note that we need to say these two little words when contacting legislators about supporting the bill in the Senate.
NO CHANGES!
More information will be posted soon!
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
Well, you guys certainly deserve a win after all the years you have been trying to get this.
Hope all the PA people will be contacting their senators.
Posted by AuntyLynn (Member # 35938) on :
Congratulations! And Best Luck in the Senate!
Please - all you folks in PA, you NEED to send an email, or make a call, to your State Senators!
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
What was the insurance mandate that was retained?
Posted by cozynana (Member # 34270) on :
One step closer!!!!!
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Here is the specific wording for the insurance coverage. I tried to break it up below for easier reading.
SECTION 6. REQUIRED COVERAGE.
(A) TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES.--
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B), EVERY HEALTH CARE POLICY WHICH IS DELIVERED, ISSUED FOR DELIVERY, RENEWED, EXTENDED OR MODIFIED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH BY A HEALTH INSURER
MUST COVER PRESCRIBED TREATMENT FOR LYME DISEASE OR RELATED TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES IF THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLAN ARE DOCUMENTED IN THE PATIENT'S MEDICAL RECORD,
AND IT IS DOCUMENTED IN THE PATIENT'S MEDICAL RECORD THAT THE PATIENT HAS BEEN PROPERLY INFORMED OF MULTIPLE STANDARDS OF CARE, RISKS AND BENEFITS AND ABLE TO EXERCISE INFORMED CONSENT.
SUCH TREATMENT PLANS MAY INCLUDE LONG-TERM THERAPIES, LONG-TERM ANTIBIOTIC OR ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPY AND TREATMENT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE PATIENT'S ATTENDING PHYSICIAN.
(B) EXCEPTION.--SUBSECTION (A) SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF INSURANCE:
(1) HOSPITAL INDEMNITY.
(2) ACCIDENT.
(3) SPECIFIED DISEASE.
(4) DISABILITY INCOME.
(5) DENTAL.
(6) VISION.
(7) CIVILIAN HEALTH AND MEDICAL PROGRAM OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES (CHAMPUS) SUPPLEMENT.
(8) MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT.
(9) LONG-TERM CARE.
(10) OTHER LIMITED INSURANCE BENEFIT PLANS.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Note that CHAMPUS- military- is not mandated, nor are the Medicare SUPPLEMENT plans.
Personally I think our military men and women deserve better and our seniors do too.
But this is a GREAT start!
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
And you can guess who the main objectors are to this bill, bedsides the CDC/IDiots who don't believe in chronic Lyme.
Yes, BC/BS comes to mind and a couple others. BUT, if we all push hard enough, maybe this will be passed?
We need to stay on top the situation so Senator Greenleaf will not change the bill to suit the insurers and leave the patients sick and stranded with no coverage.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Oh... and since the ID docs at Pittsburg, PA Children's Hospital tossed the IDSA guidelines out the window because they are NOT working.... and did it publicly....
And have stated the doctors need to TREAT THE BITE and not wait for blood tests, signs and symptoms...
The insurers can use that way to save money! A $10 bottle of doxy prescribed immediately is MUCH cheaper than having to pay for long term antibiotic treatment and other meds needed for years on end in some cases.
PLUS- Oh yes, I love good news...
The CDC/IDSA may have to get a second job if they have patents on the crummy blood tests they've been pushing all these years.
Few tests will be needed if docs start treating the tick bites, and most people would WANT a better test (like IGeneX) if needed in the future!
Soooooooo, ouch on the CDC/IDSA pocket books!
And thank goodness our children (and ourselves) will have the ability to be treated immediately and the majority of non-sense and fighting and destruction of lives will stop!
Oh what a beautiful day!
Posted by Rivendell (Member # 19922) on :
This is huge!
Now, if more states demand this, Medicare will be obliged to cover treatments also. After all, don't we want people who are disabled to be able to get well?
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
I emailed my Senator!!
Posted by migs (Member # 16496) on :
Great to hear.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
My Senator emailed me back. Here is his response:
"I am familiar with this disease. I will look at the bill if it comes before the Senate. We only have three voting days remaining this year, so I doubt that it will make it through the committee process in time."
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)