House File 442 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 442 BY SALMON A BILL FOR An Act requiring a Lyme disease testing information disclosure. 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 2 TLSB 2437HH (5) 85 jr/nh

H.F. 442 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 139A.27 Lyme disease testing 1 information disclosure. 2 1. A health care provider who orders a laboratory test 3 for the presence of Lyme disease shall provide to the patient 4 or the patient’s legal representative the following written 5 information: 6 Your health care provider has ordered a laboratory test for 7 the presence of Lyme disease for you. Current laboratory 8 testing for Lyme disease can be problematic and standard 9 laboratory tests often result in false negative and false 10 positive results, and if done too early, you may not have 11 produced enough antibodies to be considered positive because 12 your immune response requires time to develop antibodies. If 13 you are tested for Lyme disease, and the results are negative, 14 this does not necessarily mean you do not have Lyme disease. 15 If you continue to experience symptoms, you should contact your 16 health care provider and inquire about the appropriateness of 17 retesting or additional treatment. 18 2. A health care provider shall be immune from civil 19 liability for the provision of the written information required 20 by this section absent gross negligence or willful misconduct. 21 Sec. 2. PERIODIC REVIEW OF LYME DISEASE TESTING 22 INFORMATION. The department of public health shall 23 periodically review the Lyme disease testing notification 24 language specified in section 139A.27, as enacted in this Act, 25 to evaluate its accuracy and continuing applicability. The 26 department may recommend legislation to revise or eliminate the 27 notification language. 28 EXPLANATION 29 This bill requires that a health care provider who orders 30 a laboratory test for Lyme disease shall provide written 31 information, as specified in the bill, relating to the 32 limitations of the test. 33 A health care provider shall be immune from civil liability 34 for the provision of the written information required by the 35 -1- LSB 2437HH (5) 85 jr/nh 1/ 2

H.F. 442 bill absent gross negligence or willful misconduct. 1 The department of public health is directed to periodically 2 review the required written information for accuracy and 3 continuing applicability. 4 -2- LSB 2437HH (5) 85 jr/nh 2/ 2