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Lyme disease cases are on the rise. It has been 13 years since the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published diagnostic and treatment guidelines (2006). The IDSA continues to push back the date their new guidelines will be completed- next spring, next fall, next spring- and now it is totally "unknown".
It has been 5 years since the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) published its guidelines. The IDSA can be expected to continue to dismiss the science that counters their decades long position and as has been the case the ILADS guidelines along with it. In the meantime...
Patients are still becoming chronically ill, disabled and some are dying from tick borne infections, severe symptoms, complications, and, often because they are in never-ending pain and have no hope or ability to get necessary treatment- they commit suicide.
The science is there. Over 700 peer-reviewed articles support persistent infection after the IDSA's recommended course of treatment and therefore, the need for additional treatment. What isn't there, due to the Lyme wars that were started by and continue to be fueled by doctors, are the necessary guidelines.
Due to this situation, doctors have been forced to piece together the current scientific articles and resulting clinical experience to guide their treatment decisions. Additionally, because doctors can't get their act together for the betterment of patients, it doesn't appear this "Lyme war" will ever end and the insurers don't want to spend a nickle more than they must, some doctors will only treat using the old limited guideline recommendations and insurers will continue to base their reimbursements on the 13 year old guidelines that claim all is well after a minimal course of antibiotics.
Furthermore, it will be years before any large clinical trials are conducted that will implement and review newly discovered treatment methods and options, if any are ever conducted. The IDSA believes and continues to wrongly preach to this day that all is well, no further research is needed and no additional treatment options are necessary for those who continue to suffer from symptoms after a short course of antibiotics are administered.
ILADS guidelines do not include and are not based on recent scientific discoveries from major institutions, however they do give physicians options.
Diagnostic & Treatment Options
Lyme & Tick/Vector Borne Diseases
Administration of alternative and long-term antimicrobial therapy upon diagnosis of Lyme disease or tick and vector borne diseases.
Section 1. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Alternative”- method of diagnostic evaluation and treatment that can be considered integrative, complementary, alternative or nonconventional.
“Long-term antimicrobial therapy”- administration of oral, intramuscular or intravenous antimicrobials singly or in combination, for periods of time in excess of two (2) weeks.
“Lyme disease”- the clinical diagnosis of a patient by a licensed provider of the presence of signs or symptoms compatible with acute infection with one or more known or emerging Borrelia strains; late stage, relapsing, persistent or chronic infection with one or more known or emerging Borrelia strains; or complications related to such infections.
“Tick or vector borne diseases” the clinical diagnosis of a patient by a licensed provider of the presence of signs or symptoms compatible with acute infection with known or emerging tick or vector borne organisms, including, but not limited to Lyme disease, spotted fevers (Rickettsia); Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia; Bartonella; Powassan, Heartland, Bourbon and other emerging viruses; Mycoplasma; Q-fever (Coxiella burnetti); Tularemia (Francisella tularensis); late stage, persistent or chronic infection with one or more tick or vector borne organisms; or complications related to such infectious organisms.
(b) Clinical diagnosis for Lyme and tick or vector borne diseases shall be based on knowledge obtained through a medical history and physical examination only, or in conjunction with available testing that may provide supportive data for such clinical diagnosis.
(c) A licensed physician may prescribe, administer or dispense long-term antimicrobial therapy for a therapeutic purpose to eliminate infection or to control a patient’s symptoms upon making a clinical diagnosis that the patient has Lyme or other tick or vector borne diseases or displays symptoms consistent with a clinical diagnosis of tick or vector borne diseases if the licensee has obtained informed consent and such clinical diagnosis and treatment are documented in the patient’s medical record by the prescribing licensed physician as described in Section 2(a).
(d) A licensed health care provider may prescribe, administer or dispense alternative treatment considered to be integrative, complementary, alternative or nonconventional for a therapeutic purpose to eliminate infection or to control a patient’s symptoms upon making a clinical diagnosis that the patient has Lyme or other tick or vector borne diseases or displays symptoms consistent with a clinical diagnosis of Lyme or tick or vector borne diseases if the licensee has obtained informed consent and such clinical diagnosis and treatment are documented in the patient’s medical record by the prescribing licensed health care professional as described in Section 2(a).
Section 2. (a) Informed consent shall document by written consent that the patient, guardian or parent of a minor child has been reasonably informed:
1.) The diagnostic or treatment methods employed by a licensed health care professional generally or in the instance proposed for use exceeds two (2) weeks of antimicrobial therapy for treatment related to Lyme or tick or vector borne diseases or the related symptoms, or is considered integrative, complementary, alternative or nonconventional; and
2.) Of the known risks and benefits of the proposed methods.
Section 3. (a) The options provided in this Chapter do not apply in a case in which it can be shown by clear and convincing evidence that the health care provider knew that the diagnostic or treatment method did not have a reasonable basis and was intended to defraud the patient.
Sunset Clause- This Act will expire on December 31, 2022.
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