Senate File 480 - Introduced SENATE FILE 480 BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES (SUCCESSOR TO SF 222) (COMPANION TO LSB 1138HV BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES) A BILL FOR An Act relating to exemptions from disciplinary action for 1 persons licensed to practice health-related professions 2 based on their treatment of Lyme disease or other tick-borne 3 diseases, and including effective date provisions. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 2078SV (3) 87 tr/nh/rh
S.F. 480 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 147.56 Lyme disease treatment —— 1 exemption from discipline. 2 A person licensed by a board under this subtitle shall not 3 be subject to discipline under this chapter or the board’s 4 enabling statute based solely on the licensee’s recommendation 5 or provision of a treatment method for Lyme disease or other 6 tick-borne disease if the recommendation or provision of such 7 treatment meets all the following criteria: 8 1. The treatment is provided after an examination is 9 performed and informed consent is received from the patient. 10 2. The licensee identifies a medical reason for 11 recommending or providing the treatment. 12 3. The treatment is provided after the licensee informs the 13 patient about other recognized treatment options and describes 14 to the patient the licensee’s education, experience, and 15 credentials regarding the treatment of Lyme disease or other 16 tick-borne disease. 17 4. The licensee uses the licensee’s own medical judgment 18 based on a thorough review of all available clinical 19 information and Lyme disease or other tick-borne disease 20 literature to determine the best course of treatment for the 21 individual patient. 22 5. The treatment will not, in the opinion of the licensee, 23 result in the direct and proximate death of or serious bodily 24 injury to the patient. 25 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT. This Act, being deemed of 26 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 27 EXPLANATION 28 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 29 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 30 This bill exempts licensees of health-related professions 31 provided for in Code chapter 147 from discipline based solely 32 on the licensee’s recommendation or provision of treatment of 33 Lyme disease or other tick-borne disease if informed consent 34 is received from the patient and a prior examination of the 35 -1- LSB 2078SV (3) 87 tr/nh/rh 1/ 2
S.F. 480 patient is conducted, the licensee identifies a medical reason 1 for recommending or providing such treatment, the treatment is 2 provided after the licensee informs the patient about other 3 recognized treatment options and describes to the patient the 4 licensee’s education, experience, and credentials regarding 5 the treatment of Lyme disease or other tick-borne disease, the 6 licensee uses the licensee’s own medical judgment based on a 7 thorough review of all available information and literature 8 to determine the best course of treatment for the individual 9 patient, and the treatment will not, in the opinion of the 10 licensee, result in the direct and proximate death of or 11 serious bodily injury to the patient. 12 The bill shall become effective upon enactment. 13 -2- LSB 2078SV (3) 87 tr/nh/rh 2/ 2