The Maryland General Assembly will hold hearing next week on HB0880, a bill that would require insurance companies to cover their patients’ treatment for Lyme disease.

Maryland map/National Atlas of the United States
Maryland map/National Atlas of the United States

The legislation sponsored by Frederick County Delegate Karen Lewis Young would require certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide certain coverage for certain long–term antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease and related tick–borne illnesses under certain circumstances.

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In addition, it would prohibit an insurance company from denying coverage for certain treatment under certain circumstances.

In 2016, Maryland reported 1,866 confirmed and probable Lyme disease cases, according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention data, putting it behind only five other states in total cases (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin).

The bill has 38 co-sponsors and hearings will be held in both the House and the Senate on Feb. 28.

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