Requires the department of health to publish a report on the incidence of tick-borne illnesses annually on the department's website; requires the department to submit an annual report to the governor and the leaders of the legislature; requires the superintendent of financial services to review the status of health insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases and to submit a report to the governor and the leaders of the legislature.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8943
SPONSOR: Thiele TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring annual
reports on tick-borne illnesses; and to require the superintendent of
financial services to review the status of health insurance coverage for
the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases
PURPOSE:
To have a real-time understanding of the state of tick-borne illnesses
in New York State by requiring the DOH to keep and report yearly statis-
tics on tick borne illnesses and tick populations and to study the
current state of health insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme and
other tick-borne diseases in New York.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section One amends the Public Health law by adding a new section 207-b
which requires the department of health, in conjunction with the tick-
borne disease institute and the department of environmental conserva-
tion, to publish a report on its website that states the number of diag-
nosed cases of tick-borne illnesses, the incidence of tick-borne illness
in each county and the estimated tick population and whether that popu-
lation is expected to increase, decrease or remain constant. Section one
also requires the department of health, in conjunction with the tick-
borne disease institute and the department of environmental conservation
to annually report to the leaders of the legislature and the governor
the statistics outlined above. Section two directs the superintendent of
the Department of Financial Services, in consultation with the commis-
sioner of the Department of Health, to review various provisions related
to the costs and range of insurance coverage of Lyme and other tick-
borne related diseases. Section three requires the superintendent to
submit a report of the department's findings, conclusions, and recommen-
dations within 180 days of the effective date of this act.
Section four states the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
As the climate crisis worsens, the risk of tick-borne infections will
only increase. When it comes to fighting these infections, especially
Lyme, timely information is critical. Despite this, most of the data New
York uses to gauge the severity of Lyme and other tickborne illnesses is
outdated and incomplete. The most recent statistics released by the New
York State Department of Health are from the years 2017-2019 already
four years out of date at the writing of this bill. In order to effec-
tively combat the spread of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses in New
York, policymakers and the public need to have accurate, up-to-date
information on the state of tickborne illnesses. However, fighting tick-
borne illness does not end with diagnoses. People who are afflicted with
these illnesses must receive the proper treatment. Unfortunately, many
people affected by Lyme disease are not covered for treatment by their
insurance company. Lyme affects everyone differently and, if it is not
found and diagnosed immediately, it can cause life-long complications,
including death. Because there is no single treatment for those suffer-
ing from long Lyme, some insurance companies will not cover treatment
beyond the standard 14 days of antibiotics, even if a patient continues
to experience symptoms. This legislation would ensure that all New
Yorkers have access to current information on tick-borne illnesses and
tick populations by requiring the DOH to publish this information on its
website and annually provide a report to the Leaders of the Legislature
and the Governor. It also directs the Superintendent of the Department
of Financial Services to review the current state of Lyme treatment
coverage in New York and provide a report to the legislature on its
findings. By providing these pieces of information, New York's policy-
makers and the public will have a more complete picture to aid in the
prevention and complete treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne
illnesses.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
IMMEDIATELY
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8943
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring annual
reports on tick-borne illnesses; and to require the superintendent of
financial services to review the status of health 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 Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2 207-b to read as follows:
3 § 207-b. Tick-borne illnesses; reports. 1. The department, in conjunc-
4 tion with the tick-borne disease institute and the department of envi-
5 ronmental conservation, shall publish a report on its website containing
6 information related to the incidence of tick-borne illnesses in the
7 state. Such report shall include, but not be limited to:
8 (a) the number of diagnosed cases of tick-borne illnesses;
9 (b) the incidence of tick-borne illness in each county; and
10 (c) the estimated tick population in the state and whether such popu-
11 lation is expected to increase, decrease, or remain constant at the
12 state and county level.
13 2. On or before April first annually, the department, in conjunction
14 with the tick-borne disease institute and the department of environ-
15 mental conservation, shall submit a report to the governor, the tempo-
16 rary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority
17 leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly. Such
18 report shall summarize the statistics required to be reported pursuant
19 to subdivision one of this section for the previous year and include any
20 other information deemed relevant to tick-borne illnesses for the coming
21 year.
22 § 2. (a) The superintendent of financial services, in consultation
23 with the commissioner of health, shall review the status of health
24 insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-
25 borne related diseases, and make recommendations regarding potential
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11494-02-3
A. 8943 2
1 changes to insurance coverage requirements and parameters. Such review
2 shall include, but not be limited to:
3 (i) The current range of insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme
4 and other tick-borne related diseases within New York state;
5 (ii) Reasons for insurer denial of coverage for the treatment of Lyme
6 and other tick-borne related diseases;
7 (iii) Insurance coverage required by other states for the treatment of
8 symptoms related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases and their esti-
9 mated costs and payment models; and
10 (iv) The estimated cost of expanding coverage for the treatment of
11 symptoms related to Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases.
12 (b) Within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this act,
13 the superintendent of financial services shall submit a report to the
14 governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the
15 assembly of the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the depart-
16 ment of financial services.
17 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
