The Lyme Disease Association (LDA) has been working to trying to stop the spread of Lyme disease and find a cure for chronic Lyme disease for almost two decades. LDA has worked on educating multi state officials from legislators to governors to health departments. LDA has also worked with county and local officials who often are looking for ways to control tick-borne diseases in their specific areas which may be more heavily endemic than the state at large.
LDA has also worked with groups in many states to develop, pass, and implement state legislation
In this section, you can view some of these efforts and perhaps find ideas to use in your state.
On August 12, 2019, Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, signed House Bill 889 into law which will expand insurance coverage for Lyme Disease testing and treatment. According to the Governor, this new legislation has been greatly needed and is a big step forward in protecting children and families throughout the state. Tick-borne illnesses have been on […]
On May 29, 2019, The Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Congressional Town Meeting Sponsored by Congressman Christopher H. Smith (NJ-4) was held in the Wall Township, NJ, Municipal Building. Despite tornado warnings, flash flood warnings with torrential rains, a packed house of more than 200 people attended the three and a half hour event. Wall Mayor Kevin […]
The Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Congressional Town Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2019 from 6:45pm-930pm at the Wall Township Municipal Building Community Room, 2700 Allaire Rd, Wall Township, NJ. The town meeting is sponsored by US Congressman Christopher H. Smith. Hear from nationally-recognized Lyme disease experts about current efforts to combat Lyme and Tick-Borne diseases, updates on diagnosis and treatment, and how to protect yourself and your family, and more. LDA president, Pat Smith, will join US Congressman, Christopher H. Smith; CDC, Deputy Director, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ben Beard, PhD; and Richard Horowitz, MD as speakers at the meeting […]
Delaware Legislature Declares Lyme Awareness Month By passing Delaware House of Rep. Concurrent Resolution #79, the Delaware legislature declared May 2016 as Lyme Disease Awareness month. The legislature sent the resolution to the Lyme Disease Association, a provision included in the resolution, which has posted it here online. Rep. Schwartzkopf and Rep. D. Short are […]
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Illinois lawmakers vote unanimously to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto on a bill proposed to protect physicians from possible discipline for aggressively treating Lyme disease. The bill requires the establishment of a Lyme disease task force as well as a statewide Lyme disease prevention and outreach program. Click here for the article
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, June 19, 2018 http://www.nysenate.gov SENATE APPROVES $1 MILLION INVESTMENT TO COMBAT LYME ACROSS NEW YORK STATE Historic Levels of Funding Build Upon the Senate’s Commitment to Increasing Public Awareness, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Illnesses. The New York State Senate today approved a resolution to provide a record […]
States and counties throughout the US have proclaimed May Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Many states and counties have taken steps to raise awareness regarding Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Declaring “May Lyme Awareness Month” is one move to help remind people spring is here, ticks are out, prevention & proper education are your best tools to […]
Podium (L-R) Sen. Charles Schumer – NY, Pat Smith, LDA US Senator Chuck Schumer (NY) , Senate Minority Leader, invited LDA President Pat Smith to speak at a press conference he hosted in Woodbury, NY on May 2, 2018. The focus of the conference was to ensure that government monies on Lyme and tick-borne […]
Several Lyme disease advocates in Kansas have been working for several years with Kansas Senator Carolyn McGinn on a draft of a bill to protect doctors who treat Lyme disease with long-term antibiotics. Senator McGinn asked the head of the Kansas Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare to hold a hearing on Lyme disease, […]