POLITICAL ACTION: Minnesota Lyme bill in the works; hear state senator on Dec. 8

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Minnesota State Senator John Marty will discuss his proposed legislation to protect Lyme doctors from unwarranted intrusion by the state medical board at upcoming meeting of Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group in Forrest Lake.

From the Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group:

MN Lyme Bill in the Works

Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group Invites you to attend a program featuring Senator John Marty on Citizen Activism

Join us on Dec 8, 2009

when we will have the unique opportunity to meet Minnesota State Senator John Marty, author of Senate bill SF 1631.The goal of this bill is to protect physicians who treat Lyme disease aggressively from unwarranted intrusions by the state medical board. Come and learn how the passage of this Physician Protection bill will improve patient access to physicians who are able to

correctly diagnose and treat Lyme disease.

About Lyme Disease in Minnesota:

·        Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the United States. Minnesota ranks 8^th, with 1,282 cases reported in 2008. 

·        The CDC estimates the number to be ten times what is reported.

·        1 in 3 deer ticks in Minnesota carry the Lyme bacteria, according to the MN Dept of Health.

·        Lyme cases have spiked 450% in Minnesota from 1998 – 2008.

·        Tests for LD are highly inaccurate and result in false negatives; insurance companies then use these results to deny care.

·        Patients are often denied much-needed antibiotic treatment by doctors who are misinformed about the disease or fear reprisal from state medical boards.

·        Each year thousands go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, told that their symptoms are "all in their head.”

About Senator Marty:

As chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee, Senator Marty is in an advantageous position to advocate for the bill.  With two decades of legislative experience, Senator Marty has the necessary skills to move the bill forward.

How YOU can make a difference:

Having a strong advocate in the state senate is only one part of the strategy for passing this bill. The most important part is citizen activism; we need Minnesotans to speak up and demand action from governmental officials, including the senators and representatives elected from their districts.

Be a part of the solution to improve Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment in Minnesota.