Requires health insurers to provide coverage for long term medical care for Lyme disease and other tick borne related pathogens; establishes educational measures

6 Co-sponsors

• David Carlucci
• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Brad Hoylman-Sigal
• George Latimer
• John L. Sampson
• Cecilia Tkaczyk

BILL NUMBER:S3478A

Title of bill

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage of long term medical care for Lyme disease and other tick borne related pathogens; and to amend the tax law and the state finance law, in relation to providing for taxpayer gifts for tick borne illness research, detection and education and establishing the tick borne illness research, detection and education fund

Purpose or general idea of bill

To require health insurers to provide coverage for long term medical care for Lyme disease and other tick borne related pathogens.

To increase public awareness and community outreach for prevention of tick bites and treatment of tick borne illness symptoms. To provide funding and encourage charitable donations for research and efforts to raise public awareness of tick borne illness.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 titles the bill the "Tick borne illness treatment and education act of 2013 (The TickBITE Act)."

Section 2 adds Lyme disease to those ailments covered by insurance law by amending subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law by adding a new paragraph 30

Section 3 amends subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law by adding a new paragraph 19.

Section 4 amends section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new subsection (ll).

Section 5 amends the tax law by adding new section 209-I to allow for taxpayer gifts for tick borne illness, research and education.

Section 6 amends the tax law by adding new section 630-d.

Section 7 amends the state finance law by adding new section 97-cc to establish the "tick borne illness research, detection and education fund."

Section 8 sets the effective date

Justification

Insurance law currently fails to cover tick borne illness, The spread of Lyme Disease in the Hudson Valley and other parts of New York State has been growing steadily in the past few years: The disease is spread by a tick which is encountered in the brush. The cost of treatment for this debilitating disease is expensive.

Prior legislative history

None

Fiscal implications

Compensation for those infected with tick borne illnesses.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of the foregoing sections of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such date.