Bill > S04816

This bill expands workers' compensation and insurance coverage for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases by making several key changes. In the workers' compensation law, the bill adds Lyme disease and tick-borne diseases as potential occupational diseases, particularly for workers involved in outdoor activities or animal treatment, and clarifies that disability definitions now include disabilities caused by these diseases. On the insurance side, the bill requires all health insurance policies (including individual, group, hospital, and medical service policies) to provide comprehensive coverage for Lyme disease and tick-borne disease treatments. This coverage must include various treatment methods such as intravenous and oral antibiotic therapies, and any other treatments recommended by a licensed New York physician. The goal appears to be ensuring that workers who contract these diseases through their employment are protected and that patients have access to necessary medical care without facing prohibitive costs. The bill will take effect 120 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for developing implementation regulations.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4816