In the later 90's the medical discipline boards of a number of states (I think 17) simultaneously began investigating Lyme disease doctors in a clear attempt to wipe LLMDs off the map.
In other states, with Lyme community activism , the witchhunt has died down, even though several Lyme doctors were disciplined or quit treating Lyme as a result.

However, in NYS the
witchhunt has heated up. One doctor has lost his license. Others are still under OPMC (medical disciplinary board) investigation.

When Dr. Burrascano was charged, the word went out across the country that it was not safe to treat Lyme disease. Even though he has been mostly exonerated, some charges were upheld AND several hundred thousand dollars were spent on his defense.

AND the OPMC continues to persecute LLMDs AND Dr. Burrascano could again be investigated and possibly lose his license if the OPMC law is not changed.

Because the NYS LLMDs have been trail blazers, the actions of the OPMC against them stand as a warning to doctors throughout the country that it is not safe to treat chronic Lyme disease.

If the Lyme community is able to affect the reform of an entire (corrupt) organization like the OPMC,we send a message to doctors throughout the country that it is getting safer to treat us.

To All
Please read why we are putting all this effort out; it's NOT just about NY; it's about the eventual ability for LLMD's to treat you.

NY has the most LLMD's targeted (as a percentage) to have their licenses revoked under false pretense;

This has ALREADY happened in NY, Oregon, and several other states.

Take some time to read about what may be possible in your future; www.lymeinfo.net
history beginning with Joe B., and what has occcured since then

also www.faim.org
under political section;
If Dr.'s aren't part of the "club", they have a much greater chance of being targets.

Powerful interest such as insurance companies and those who have the favor of the NIH big dollar grants do NOT want this bill to pass....or the other that has yet to reach the NY senate, or the PA bill, or the RI bill (which we have, for now)

I know many people don't like being political; neither did I, but our collective lives depend upon it.

Before I became involved in this aspect of Lyme, I just thought someone else would do it; with how much there is to overcome, I was shocked to find how few people are actively involved in Lyme politics, compared to the patient population of each state.
There IS no one else; it's just us regular human beings, who happen to have Lyme disease.

Can you tolerate just a little time of understanding the politics of this illness if all of our lives depend upon it?

If so, please gain some understanding of the situation (by reading the websites), and if you can spare even a little time, it would be innevitably be helping all of us.

It's not necessary that everyone become emersed in it; I know how many other things there are to accomplish with this disease.

If 50% of those in this board alone spent 5 hours per month on just political issues, we could have a huge network of coast to coast power to combat each state's situation.

Then, we could all still do whatever projects we engage in more frequently.

Consider this carefully; while you still have LLMD's to go to (or at least, a doctor who is finding some way to treat you).

Please don't take for granted that they will always be there; we may have helped begin to shift the tide, but trust that powerful interests will not just let it go.

Sincerely,
Regina
[email protected]
PS; I should be back online by Sunday.

UP!!!!!!

Rita

I'm not thanking you as a New Yorker; I am thanking you on behalf of all the Lyme patients across the country who may have no idea just how this little NY bill may prevent them from eventually loosing their own care.

I also thank you on behalf of the honest and decent physicians who have been treated as if they are not US Citizens.

NO Doctor is immune to any of their own State's Departments of Health; if we do not get this passed in NY, you can bet that your state is watching. Some have already gotten their only LLMD's license in their state taken by these agencies.

Did you know that appr. 60% of LLMD's in NY are under scrutiny and in the radar of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC)? They are the strong arm of the Department of Health, and have total authority to prosecute (and persecute) physicians who do not follow the "BIG DUCKS" recommendations (i.e. lyme is easy to cure, easy to treat, etc.)

Read it for yourself;
www.lymeinfo.net

and
www.faim.org

When did you fill your last perscription?

If we cannot get this bill and others like it passed, there will come a day when you may not be able to fill the next one.

I'm not trying to shock or upset anyone; this is the direction the big ducks, insurance companies, and state department's of health are trying to take.

THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THIS!

The good news:

After 3 long years, we have the support of the entire NY State Assembly, and are on the verge of having the support of the NY Senate to pass this bill... we need to let all NY doctors know.

PLEASE don't take my word for it.

After you read about it (at the websites I've posted above), please commit whatever you can to help us accomplish this...for all our sakes.

Thank you thank you!!!

Up!

Please read the thread by about OPMC reform; I've posted some info you may want to read.

I wish you all a healthy, peaceful week.

Looks like our action alert post is now blank?

Hoping we can get a new one up tomorrow..

Mo

If NY loses their fight, you could lose your long term abx and your LLMD.

Friday, April 2, 2004

Lawmakers consider Lyme-related reforms
By Dan Shapley

Poughkeepsie Journal

New York lawmakers are considering several bills that could affect local
patients suffering from Lyme disease and the doctors who treat them.
Lyme disease is the most prevalent of several diseases spread by ticks,
tiny blood-sucking arachnids common in the woodlands of the Hudson
Valley, where some of the highest incidences of Lyme disease are found
nationwide.

Since 1986, 14,883 cases of Lyme have been reported in Dutchess County
alone -- with more than 1,000 cases reported each year since 1996.

In February, the Assembly passed a bill that would lead to sweeping
reforms in the Office of Professional Medical Conduct to give doctors
greater due process when accused of misconduct, and to establish a
''consumer assistance unit'' for patients.

The legislation grew from a hearing initiated by Assemblyman Joel
Miller, R-Poughkeepsie, about allegations that the office had unfairly
targeted doctors -- allegedly at the behest of insurance companies and
other doctors -- who treat long-term sufferers of Lyme disease with
expensive and lengthy antibiotic regimens.

Miller is also co-sponsoring a separate bill being considered by the
Assembly Health Committee that would specifically prevent the office
from investigating doctors solely because they treat tick-borne diseases
with long courses of antibiotics.

''The Office of Professional Medical Conduct has been used as a tool of
the insurance industry,'' Miller said. ''This is not a health issue, it
is a money issue.''

At the heart of that controversy is a lack of consensus in the medical
community that long-term treatment with antibiotics is an effective
treatment for Lyme disease, or that Lyme disease can cause long-term
symptoms.

Many vocal patients and a handful of doctors in the Hudson Valley swear
both are true, but medical institutions are divided about the expensive
treatment.

Doctors now face a ''muzzle,'' supporters say, because the Office of
Professional Medical Conduct has the power to revoke licenses. And other
doctors may be inhibited against treating tick-borne diseases
aggressively because of the consequences their colleagues have endured.

One Hudson Valley doctor investigated by the office refused to comment
about the issue.

Antibiotics control symptoms Kathleen Arkins, a Hyde Park resident, went
three years with Lyme before a doctor diagnosed it correctly and began
treating it. Now, she lives with symptoms like memory loss that recur
whenever she stops taking antibiotics. Her insurance would not cover the
intravenous antibiotic treatments her doctor wanted.

''Lyme has absolutely put the brakes on my energy, my abilities. I can
go for awhile and feel normal, but gradually the antibiotics wear off,''
Arkins said.

The state Department of Health, which administers the Office of
Professional Medical Conduct, had no comment on the bill. Spokesman Rob
Kenny said the department is in discussions with Sen. Steve Saland,
R-Poughkeepsie.

Saland said he supports much of the bill the Assembly passed in relation
to reform of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. However, he
believes one proposed change in particular -- requiring evidence against
a doctor to be ''clear and convincing'' -- might be too high a standard.
It might, he said, leave patients vulnerable against doctors who need to
be sanctioned.

A Senate bill he intends to co-sponsor addresses that issue, he said.
Saland has also co-sponsored a bill that would require insurance
providers to cover Lyme disease treatment, and require workers
compensation coverage. Similar bills exist in the Assembly.

''It's critically important in areas such as ours where you will find
disproportionately high incidences of Lyme disease,'' Saland said.

On the Web
For information on tick-borne diseases and tips for avoiding infection,
visit the Stop Ticks on People Web site at www.stopticks.org

Does anyone have some time to help fax or call NY doctors this week?

If so, this is still a very critical issue, so if you have a bit of time, go to the top of this thread and participate in any way you can.

We will ALL benefit from this.