Bill > SB461

This bill aims to address the high incidence of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania by establishing comprehensive requirements for diagnostic testing, treatment, and insurance coverage for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses. The legislation mandates that health insurance policies and government programs cover all diagnostic testing (including full western blot tests), tick testing, and prescribed treatments for Lyme disease, which may include short-term or long-term antibiotic treatments as determined by a healthcare practitioner. The bill requires healthcare providers to document clinical diagnoses and report them to a new statewide registry managed by the Department of Health in partnership with the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania. Additionally, the Department of Health must conduct annual educational campaigns to inform healthcare practitioners about Lyme disease, develop culturally appropriate educational materials, and create an electronic database to track tick and disease-related information. The legislation is particularly significant because Pennsylvania has the highest incidence of Lyme disease in the country, with an estimated 100,000 Pennsylvanians contracting the disease annually and approximately 5.1% of the state's population affected over a ten-year period. The bill aims to improve patient access to comprehensive testing and treatment, raise public awareness, and potentially reduce the number of Lyme disease cases in the state.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=461