Two Pennsylvania state legislators have introduced a measure necessitating Lyme disease treatment insurance coverage.
State Sens. Michele Brooks (R-50th District) and Doug Mastriano (R-33rd District) circulated a co-sponsorship memo on Dec. 1 seeking support for the bill, which would ensure antibiotic treatment is available via insurance.
“Lyme disease is curable and preventable and Pennsylvania needs to be more aggressive in diagnosis, treatment, education, and prevention to give individuals the ability to overcome this disease and not be debilitated for the rest of their life,” Brooks said.
Authorities indicated Lyme disease can lead to debilitating symptoms if left untreated – including fevers, rash, facial paralysis, arthritis, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and joint aches, severe headaches, irregular heartbeat, memory loss, and nerve pain.
“It is important as a General Assembly to do our part in combating this devastating illness that has adversely impacted thousands of statewide residents,” Mastriano said.
Health insurers would be required to cover the treatment prescribed by their health care practitioner for Lyme disease or related tick-borne illnesses, per the proposed legislation, if the diagnosis and treatment plan are documented in the patient’s medical record.
The lawmakers maintain under the bill longer-term antibiotic treatment shall not be denied coverage solely because the treatment may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature to treat Lyme and related tick-borne diseases.