SF 2009 (LSB 5331XS (3) 85)

SENATE FILE 2009

BY  SODDERS

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a lyme disease task force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  LYME DISEASE TASK FORCE AND REPORT.
   1.  The department of public health shall establish and facilitate a task force to examine the prevalence and treatment of chronic lyme disease in the state.
   2.  The membership of the task force shall include but is not limited to the following:
   a.  A representative of the department of public health.
   b.  A representative of the board of medicine.
   c.  A representative of the Iowa medical society.
   d.  A representative from the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics.
   e.  An advocate concerned about chronic lyme disease.
   f.  Other members as the department of public health deems necessary.
   3.  The task force shall discuss the prevalence of lyme disease in the state, the appropriate treatment of lyme disease, patient methodologies, studies on the effectiveness of various treatments for lyme disease, legislative proposals concerning lyme disease, board of medicine actions concerning lyme disease, and other topics deemed appropriate by the department of public health. The task force shall focus primarily on chronic lyme disease.
   4.  The task force shall develop recommendations concerning tracking of chronic lyme disease, appropriate care protocols for chronic lyme disease, ways to promote public awareness of chronic lyme disease, and other recommendations deemed appropriate by the department of public health. The task force shall include cost projections for all recommendations.
   5.  The task force shall, by December 15, 2014, submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the general assembly, and the department of public health.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the department of public health (DPH) to establish and facilitate a task force concerning lyme disease. The task force shall discuss the prevalence, treatment, patient methodologies, legislative proposals, and board of medicine actions concerning lyme disease. The bill directs the task force to focus on chronic lyme disease. The bill also requires the task force to develop recommendations for tracking the disease, appropriate care protocols, and public awareness, again with an emphasis on chronic lyme disease. The bill directs the task force to submit its findings and recommendations to the governor, general assembly, and the department of public health by December 15, 2014.