Senator Gipson Calls on NYS to Take Action on Lyme Following Release of New Cdc Study

For Immediate Release: August 21, 2013
Media Contact: Jonathan Heppner | 845.463.0840 | heppner@nysenate.gov

SENATOR GIPSON CALLS ON NYS TO TAKE ACTION ON
LYME FOLLOWING RELEASE OF NEW CDC STUDY

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY -- Senator Terry Gipson (D-Dutchess, Putnam) issued the following statement after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report stating that as many as 300,000 Americans are actually diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, ten times more than previously reported:

"Now that the CDC has taken further action to better understand the seriousness of tick-borne illness, finding that there are at least ten times the number of people affected than was previously reported, it's time for New York State to stop stalling and take meaningful action to protect and provide coverage for the people and families of our state affected by tick borne-illness.

"We can’t let another year go by allowing suffering and financial hardship to occur due to tick-borne illness. We must take meaningful steps, such as passing my TickBITE Act (S.3478) which would require health insurers and workers’ compensation to provide coverage for long-term medical care for Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens. We also cannot afford not to be on the forefront of Lyme and tick-borne illness research and eduction.

"I ask the people of New York to please contact your legislators and the New York State Senate Health Committee to insist that we can’t wait and that they take action and enact appropriate legislation. This issue is not going away. I am committed to making New York State a leader in the fight against Lyme and tick-borne illness."

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