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Committee hears emotional appeals on long-term Lyme treatment, insurers oppose mandate
Summary
House Bill 1268 would require carriers to cover long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses. Patients and advocates urged passage; insurers and state agencies previously issued unfavorable reports and fiscal concerns were raised.
Delegate Howard presented House Bill 1268 to the Health and Government Operations Committee on March 19, asking insurers, the Department of Health and lawmakers to approve coverage for long-term antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses.
Sponsor Delegate Howard said the bill would require “insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations, carriers, to provide specified coverage for long term antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease and related tick borne illnesses,” and that carriers may not deny coverage “solely because the treatment may be categorized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.” He noted the bill has received unfavorable reports from the Department of Health and the Life and Health Insurers of Maryland in prior years but said patients are suffering and need access to treatment.
Multiple witnesses who identified as patients or family members described prolonged illness and high out-of-pocket costs for extended treatment. A 17-year-old witness, Brianna, said she is “in remission from Lyme disease” but continues to experience monthly flares and that her family exhausted savings paying for care. Another parent described a daughter who at times could not walk and said long-term antibiotic regimens were required but not covered by insurance. Alan Burdette testified he spent about $10,000 out of pocket over a year for treatment that brought improvement.
An online physician witness, identified as practicing in New York, told the committee that while physicians in his state can prescribe treatments as they see fit, reimbursement by insurers varies and that intravenous antibiotic therapy can be costly. Delegate Howard highlighted that five other states — Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Illinois and Pennsylvania — have enacted similar coverage measures, and he urged a favorable report.
Committee members did not register a formal vote during the hearing. Several expressed sympathy for patients but also noted repeated unfavorable testimony from insurers and uncertainty about fiscal impacts. The bill hearing concluded without immediate committee action; witnesses were directed to submit written materials.
