As a proud co-sponsor of HB-6200, I am thrilled to report it has passed the Senate 36-0 and is now on the way to Governor Rell for her signature.
I support giving doctors the flexibility to treat Lyme disease with antibiotics if they believe it is in the best interest of the patient. I have an immediate family member with Lyme disease, and appreciate the difficulties of fighting this disease and how it impacts everyone a little differently. I am thrilled that doctors and patients will now have the flexibility to make decisions on a patient-specific basis on how best to proceed with treatment.
Please let me know if there is ever anything else I can do for you or your family, --Dan
Posted by hcconn22 (Member # 5263) on :
BIG NEWS- BIG WIN FOR ALL LYME PATIENTS and DR's in CT. Maybe more states will follow.
Also BIG blow to the IDSA as they greatly objected to this legislation. Basically it makes the guidelines worthless for Dr's but not for Insurance Companies--- whom the guidelines were written for --- to save $$$$.
Posted by Lymeblue (Member # 6897) on :
WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE!!!! BLAKE AND TRACY I MIGHT GO AND VISIT YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOONN TO CELEBRATE!!!
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
YAHOO........CELEBRATE!!!!! Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
I just posted the official press release and sent out emails.
This is fantastic news!!!
Thanks to all the patient's who made the effort to get this historic bill passed!
Working together we are a train rolling through!!!
Posted by Lymeblue (Member # 6897) on :
And it was unanimously in both the house and the senate...what a message to the world!!!
Posted by KS (Member # 12549) on :
WONDERFUL NEWS!!
Posted by radfaraf (Member # 11909) on :
So it totally passed now? Nobody else can vote no to it? !!
Posted by nomoremuscles (Member # 9560) on :
Waiting on the governor's signiture.
As I understand it, it's up to her now.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I don't think the Gov can possibly NOT sign it with UNANIMOUS support from both House and Senate!!! This is just historical!!
What I posted above was one of the many emails I got from a Senator. I had emailed each and every one a little bit about my family and the standard urging for them to push this forward.
I received back several emails, very touching as MANY of the Senators have family members who are very ill with Lyme.
Now we know, the lawmakers in CT totally GET it, because they all know someone or have a family member very ill with Chronic Lyme!
So sad it has to come to this, but we always said....eventually it will be so widespread that everyone will GET IT in one way or another...and from that change will happen.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
This should answer some of your questions...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Maggie Shaw Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force [email protected]
Newtown, CT, May 29, 2009 − Patient groups across Connecticut and the nation were jubilant as the Connecticut Senate passed the Lyme disease doctor protection bill today, 36-0, following its unanimous passage in the Connecticut House of Representatives on April 30, 2009.
HB 6200 contains language that will protect CT licensed Lyme treating physicians from prosecution by the State of Connecticut Medical Examining Board solely on the basis of a clinical diagnosis and /or for treatment of long-term Lyme disease.
The bill provides the definition for Lyme disease which includes ``the presence in a patient of signs and symptoms compatible with acute infection with Borrelia burgdorferi; or with late stage or persistent or chronic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, or with complications related to such an infection.''
It also defines clinical diagnosis as determined by a physician ``...that is based on knowledge obtained through the medical history and physical examination alone, or in conjunction with the testing that provides supportive data for such clinical diagnosis.'' In addition, it provides for updating the Lyme disease definition if other strains are found to cause Lyme disease.
The final bill was the result of months of negotiations between Legislative Leaders, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the undersigned patient Groups.
According to Maggie Shaw, Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force, who has been spearheading the Connecticut effort, ``Patients in Connecticut and their families will experience some relief as a result of the passage of this bill and Governor Rell's hoped-for decision to sign it into law.
Instead of having to drive for hours to other states, Connecticut residents may actually be able to receive treatment in the State for their debilitating symptoms, since the bill opens the door to a more friendly treatment climate for physicians.''
Pat Smith, president of the national Lyme Disease Association, who has been working with legislators in Hartford to secure passage, underscored the importance of the bill to patients everywhere:
``This bill hits at the heart of the Lyme problem, recognizing chronic Lyme infection, long-term treatment of Lyme disease, and recognizing and defining clinical judgment by physicians.
Legislators are to be commended for being knowledgeable about the problem, focusing on finding a solution acceptable to disparate groups, and taking action to make this bill a reality, a win-win for patients, doctors and the State itself.''
The Groups extend their appreciation to all the Senators, especially the sponsors.
In particular, we thank Senator Jonathan Harris (CT-5), Co-Chair of the Joint Public Health Committee, and Senator Martin Looney (CT-11), Senate Majority Leader, who took time from their busy schedules prior to passage to meet with the Groups on the importance of the bill.
In the House, thanks go to Representatives Jason Bartlett, Kim Fawcett, Public Health Committee Co-Chair, Betsy Ritter, and Representatives Chris Lyddy, Peggy Reeves and all of the legislators who supported this bill.
Passage in both houses would not have occurred without the support of patients, families and members of the Lyme community who wrote letters, made phone calls and testified in support of the bill and without the critical input and support of the Connecticut Medical Society.
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, which consists of Lyme treating physicians, also supported the bill.
The Groups have confidence that Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell will fulfill her commitment to Connecticutresidents and quickly sign this important piece of legislation into law, which would make Connecticut the second state after RI to pass a specific Lyme disease protection bill.
Representatives of the Groups met with the Governor's office earlier this month.
Lyme Disease Association, Inc. Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force Ridgefield Lyme Disease Task Force Time For Lyme, Inc. Eastern Connecticut Chapter, Lyme Disease Association
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
It still gives me chills every time I read about how the Connecticut Medical Society supported this.
We are just so used to medical associations of every type NOT supporting Chronic Lyme Disease!
Big sigh. Happy sigh!
Posted by lemonsnotlymes (Member # 19926) on :
WOW!!!! I just know that this is the beginning of a turning point for the nation.
Could this have any impact on insurance claims for chronic lyme?
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Amazing news!
It seems things are starting to change. My husband and I also heard a commercial the other night for a prescription arthritis medication (can't remember the name) but it said people with chronic Lyme should not take it. My husband and I couldn't believe our ears! I was in the kitchen and heard it and he was on the couch and we both said simultaneously, "OMG! Did you hear that?!"
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
UPDATE!
i had posted june 3rd date in another post when gov. has to sign the bill based upon my reading that elsewhere in all these conn. bill posts.....
i'm WRONG on above date; i was quoting that from someone's earlier post; i'm sorry; did not mean to mislead anyone.... [Smile]
grandmother called governor's office and found this out...
"I just got off the phone from the governor's assistant.
He says, as far as he knows, the bill is not on the governor's desk yet (Monday morning 8:30) but she has 5 days from the time it lands on her desk to sign it, not 5 days from the time the senate passes it.
That means we have more time than we thought."
thanks grandmother for checking to get accurate info! [Smile] again, my apogies to all conn. members .... [Smile] xox --------------------
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