What's happening
This bill requires insurance coverage for all costs of treating Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, and creates a taxpayer-funded research, detection, and education fund for these diseases.
Why it matters
Expands Insurance Mandates. The bill requires all health insurance plans in New York—individual, group, and HMOs—to cover every cost related to the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, including long-term and potentially expensive therapies like intravenous antibiotics, if recommended by a New York-licensed physician. This could reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket spending for affected patients.
Broadens Treatment Options. By mandating insurance coverage for “any other treatment, or any combination of treatments” for these diseases, the bill allows for more individualized and potentially innovative or longer-duration care, addressing ongoing debates over chronic Lyme and persistent symptoms.
Creates a Dedicated State Fund. The legislation establishes a special fund, supported by voluntary taxpayer donations (both corporate and personal), as well as state appropriations and private gifts, to finance research, detection, and educational efforts around tick-borne illnesses. This could increase funding for public health campaigns and scientific study in a field where patients and advocacy groups often cite underfunding.
Potential Public Health Impact. By improving both access to treatment and investment in research/education, the bill aims to address the rising incidence and long-term consequences of tick-borne diseases in New York, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis, better treatment outcomes, and more effective prevention strategies statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cover Lyme Disease Treatment
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Lyme Disease Coverage
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Kevin Cahill
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4713
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 24, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "tick borne illness treatment and education act of 2017".
§ 2. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 34 to read as follows:
(34) Every insurer issuing a policy of accident and health insurance for delivery in this state shall provide coverage for all costs for treatment of Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) and other tick borne related pathogens. Such treatment may include intravenous antibiotic therapy, oral antibiotic therapy, or any other treatment, or any combination of treatments, provided such treatment is recommended by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York.
§ 3. Subsection (k) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 22 to read as follows:
(22) Every group or blanket policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state which provides hospital, surgical or medical coverage shall provide coverage for all costs for treatment of Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) and other tick borne related pathogens. Such treatment may include intravenous antibiotic therapy, oral antibiotic therapy, or any other treatment, or any combination of treatments, provided such treatment is recommended by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01422-01-7
S. 4713 2
§ 4. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (oo) to read as follows:
(oo) Every medical expense indemnity corporation, hospital service corporation and health service corporation which provides coverage for medical, surgical or major medical care shall provide coverage for all costs for treatment of Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) and other tick borne related pathogens. Such treatment may include intravenous antibiotic therapy, oral antibiotic therapy, or any other treatment, or any combination of treatments, provided such treatment is recommended by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York.
§ 5. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 209-K to read as follows:
§ 209-K. Gift for tick borne illness research, detection and education. A taxpayer in any taxable year may elect to contribute to the support of the tick borne illness research, detection and education fund. Such contribution shall be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of the state tax owed by such taxpayer. The commissioner shall include space on the corporate income tax return to enable a taxpayer to make such contribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all revenues collected pursuant to this section shall be credited to the tick borne illness research, detection and education fund and shall be used only for those purposes enumerated in section ninety-seven-cc of the state finance law.
§ 6. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 630-e to read as follows:
§ 630-e. Gift for tick borne illness research, detection and education. An individual in any taxable year may elect to contribute to the tick borne illness research, detection and education fund. Such contribution shall be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of state tax owed by such individual. The commissioner shall include space on the personal income tax return to enable a taxpayer to make such contribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of law all revenues collected pursuant to this section shall be credited to the tick borne illness research, detection and education fund and used only for those purposes enumerated in section ninety-seven-cc of the state finance law.
§ 7. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-cc to read as follows:
§ 97-cc. Tick borne illness research, detection and education fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the comptroller, a special fund to be known as the "tick borne illness research, detection and education fund".
2. Such fund shall consist of all revenues received by the department of taxation and finance, pursuant to the provisions of sections two hundred nine-K and six hundred thirty-e of the tax law and all other moneys appropriated, credited, or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into the fund according to law.
3. Monies of the fund shall be expended only for tick borne illness research, detection and education projects pursuant to section twentyseven hundred ninety-eight of the public health law.
4. Monies shall be payable from the fund on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers approved and certified by the commissioner of health.
S. 4713 3
5. To the extent practicable, the commissioner of health shall ensure that all monies received during a fiscal year are expended prior to the end of that fiscal year.
§ 8. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 34.
Section 3 amends subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law by adding a new paragraph 22.
Section 4 amends section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new subsection (oo).
Section 5 amends the tax law by adding new section 209-n, to allow for taxpayer gifts for tick borne illness, research and education.
Section 6 amends the tax law by adding new section 630-e.
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.
Prior legislative history
2015-2016: Died in Committee
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.