What's happening
This bill directs state agencies to study and report on the adequacy of insurance coverage for Lyme and tick-borne diseases in New York.
Why it matters
Potential for improved access to care. By requiring a comprehensive review of insurance coverage for Lyme and tick-borne diseases, the bill could lead to recommendations that help patients access necessary treatments that are currently being denied or limited by insurers.
Focus on long-term and chronic illness implications. The bill specifically addresses the needs of those with long-term or chronic Lyme and tick-borne diseases, recognizing that current insurance practices may not adequately support the ongoing care these patients require.
Comparison with other states. Mandating an examination of how other states handle insurance coverage for long-term and chronic Lyme disease allows New York to benchmark its policies and potentially adopt best practices, which could benefit both patients and providers.
Accountability and transparency. By requiring a public report to state leadership within 120 days, the bill ensures that findings and recommendations are shared with policymakers, increasing transparency and opening the door for future legislative or regulatory action to address identified gaps.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Lyme Insurance Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
44 Co-sponsors
- Kevin Cahill
- David Buchwald
- David DiPietro
- Donna Lupardo
- Steven Otis
- Carrie Woerner
- Kenneth Zebrowski
- Carmen E. Arroyo
- Steven Englebright
- Angelo Santabarbara
- William Colton
- Phil Steck
- Fred Thiele
- Jonathan Jacobson
- Walter T. Mosley
- Aileen Gunther
- Michael Blake
- Richard Gottfried
- Jo Anne Simon
- Vivian Cook
- Anthony D'Urso
- Joe DeStefano
- Sandy Galef
- Alicia Hyndman
- Ellen C. Jaffee
- Robert Smullen
- Mike LiPetri
- Colin Schmitt
- Andrew Raia
- John Salka
- Nader Sayegh
- Kimberly Jean-Pierre
- Deborah Glick
- Barbara Lifton
- Mark Walczyk
- Michael J. Norris
- Anthony H. Palumbo
- William Magnarelli
- Philip Palmesano
- Marianne Buttenschon
- John T. McDonald III
- Billy Jones
- Patricia Fahy
- Monica P. Wallace
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S4571
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.363
- Rules report cal.363
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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.
Study Lyme Insurance Coverage
Vetoed · Sponsor Jim Gaughran
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6146
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT, CAHILL, BUCHWALD, DiPIETRO, LUPARDO, OTIS, WOERNER, ZEBROWSKI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT directing the department of financial services, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of health, to study and report upon the adequacy of insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The legislature hereby finds that the increasing number of Lyme disease and tick-borne related diseases in New York state highlights the need to examine the current status of the adequacy of insurance coverage related to this health epidemic. Lyme disease is one of several tick-borne diseases which result in extreme and long term fatigue, nausea, depression, joint pain and many other severe symptoms. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States, and New York is one of 14 states that account for 95% of cases in the United States. According to the New York state department of health, over 20,000 cases of Lyme disease were diagnosed between years 2012 to 2014. While sufferers of these tick-borne diseases require long term treatment, health insurance companies have denied services related to necessary medical treatment.
§ 2. The superintendent of the department of financial services, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of health, shall review the adequacy of insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases and make recommendations regarding any coverage limitations that may be found. Such review shall include but not be limited to:
(a) the present state of insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases within New York state;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00470-01-9
A. 6146 2
(b) prevailing reasons for the denial of insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases;
(c) the number of insureds in need of long term care of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases;
(d) the number of uninsured persons in need of long term care of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases;
(e) coverage required by other states for treatment for long term and chronic Lyme disease in other states;
(f) specific medical conditions related to Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases; and
(g) recommendations to ensure that there is adequate coverage for Lyme disease, including long term care of Lyme disease, and other tick-borne related diseases within New York state.
§ 3. Within one hundred twenty days of the effective date of this act, the superintendent of financial services shall submit a report to the governor, temporary president of the senate and speaker of the assembly of the department's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.