Legislation

How you can help

Patient advocacy organizations can provide leadership, but patient voices are an essential ingredient in a successful legislative program. Without your help, success is much less likely.

Keep up-to-date on state activities, including state and federal legislative efforts, by joining your online state group. To find out more, click here. Groups are available for every state, plus Washington DC and military. You can also sign up for CALDA’s online newsletter by entering your email address (at left).

CALDA urges people to contact their state and federal legislators to let them know that Lyme is present in their state. Help your legislators understand that Lyme disease costs the state money. Calculate your medical costs, lost wages, lost tax revenues, disability payments. Tell them if you have lost your job and health insurance. If you have children, include any special school accommodations they require, such as home tutoring. If you belong to a support group, tell your legislators how many people attend and how disabled they are. If you have friends and neighbors with Lyme, provide those numbers, too.

To find out how to contact your legislator, click here.