Focus – Opinions and Features

Our latest issue looks at the troubling case of Vicki Logan, a cautionary tale by Dr. Kenneth Liegner. Other topics in this issue: lab tests for Lyme, co-infections, the ILADS guidelines, Dr. Richard Horowitz, patient support groups…and much more. The issue is mailed free... Read More »

As winter weather wanes, millions of nymphal ticks are hatching out in the woods, fields and backyards in many parts of the United States. Read More »

At their annual meeting a few years ago, the Infectious Diseases Society of America adopted a policy of opposing patient-sponsored legislation. They have been true to their word. They have opposed legislation in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut and have lobbied for... Read More »

There’s good news for the Lyme community in a House Appropriations bill that just emerged from committee. Although the economic downturn has forced many programs covered by the bill to be reduced or even cut out entirely, the measure increases the Lyme disease budget of the... Read More »

You never pass legislation in a vacuum. The backdrop for the ongoing efforts to pass the Lyme bills included, in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina. In September, 150,000 people gathered in Washington DC to protest the Iraq war and the US death toll approached 2,000. Then in October,... Read More »

It was 2005, the first session of the 109th Congress. There were two competing bills in the House, and no Senate bill. No one knew what the senators would do. All we could do was wait... and hope. Finally, we had our answer, but the landscape was shifting. It might be impossible... Read More »

Some advocates had not been satisfied with the amended LIFT bill that had passed the Senate on consent in 2002. Since many people seemed unclear on the exact provisions of the different versions of the Lyme bills, LDA president Pat Smith wrote a letter clarifying differences... Read More »

Sometimes Congress is busy with other matters, like wars and disasters. Early in 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry, killing all 7 astronauts onboard and then in March the United States invaded Iraq. So perhaps it was a minor miracle that on July 31, 2003,... Read More »

The Connecticut insurance law passed in 1999 is an example of how well-intended legislation can hurt. In response to numerous complaints received by his office from Lyme disease patients being denied insurance coverage for Lyme-related expenses, Connecticut Attorney General... Read More »