2019 Maryland Bills
February 9, 2019
We have 2 bills (one for Senate, one for the House) that were just submitted that we need to address immediately. The note I just sent to the sponsors to let them know that I will write more is below.
Here are copies of the bills. Notice Johns Hopkins, the DOH and many hospitals and places who don't/won't treat us and who have actively blocked our access to treatment and insurance coverage have an UNLIMITED amount of seats at the table. A group has already been formed in New York and they have Gary Wormser on it and some other undesirables. Got word this morning there is another similar bill being submitted in Connecticut. We are under attack, and the new IDSA guidelines should be published soon making it worse.
Senate Bill (hearing on 2/26 at 1 PM)- Senator Eckardt sponsor http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2019RS/bills/sb/sb0557F.pdf
House Bill (hearing 2/27 at 1 PM)- Delegate Adams sponsor http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2019RS/bills/hb/hb0660F.pdf
EDIT- Full Written Testimony Completed, Click Here To Read.
Quick Note to Legislators
OPPOSE
February 9, 2019
Good morning,
Just saw SB 557 and HB 660 that are designed to form a Tick Borne Disease Interagency Workgroup. Please immediately withdraw the bills and bury them deep or burn them.
I will take some time when feeling better to respond with a letter and a list of reasons why these bills should be killed. But, for now please know that no one I know will support them. That includes any Lyme patients who understand what the “workgroup" would do, many doctors treating acute and the chronically ill Lyme patients, volunteer support groups across the state and country, national and international Lyme organizations and families with people who have had Lyme disease.
Please let me know if/when the bills are withdrawn. I appreciate your kind and prompt consideration.
And don’t forget, do a tick check!
Lucy Barnes
631 Railroad Avenue
Centreville, MD 21617
Last Update- November 2019
Lucy Barnes
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