The Pennsylvania House has approved and sent on to the Senate a bill designed to raise awareness of, and encourage better treatment for, Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in Pennsylvania, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
House Bill 272 would require health insurers to cover treatment of Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses if the diagnosis and a treatment plan are documented. In addition, the bill would require the creation of a task force to work with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Department of Health to create a statewide education effort on Lyme disease and related maladies.
Pennsylvania ranks No. 1 in the nation for reported cases of Lyme disease, Cox says. The total number of reported cases increased from 5,722 in 2009 to 7,484 in 2010.