Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s (D-Columbia, Dutchess) bill to improve the care of those suffering from Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses has been signed into law (Chp. 532 of 2014). This new law will allow physicians to prescribe long-term antibiotic therapy to patients with symptoms of chronic Lyme disease without fear of being censured.

“I thank the Governor for recognizing its importance and signing this critical bill; my colleagues in both houses of the legislature who passed this measure unanimously in June; and most of all, the citizens who lent their voices to the groundswell of grassroots support to help put this bill over the top,” said Assemblymember Barrett.

The Barrett bill will ensure that those with Lyme and other tick-borne illness have the same rights as those with other diseases: to be seen and treated by the practitioner of their choice; to be informed that there are differing professional judgments about the appropriate care for Lyme disease; and to participate in the choice of treatment as it pertains to their circumstance and preference.

The bill had steadfast support from both sides of the aisle. And it even garnered the support of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congressmen Sean Patrick Maloney and Chris Gibson.

Assemblymember Barrett added, “This Lyme legislation was a hard won victory for all of our neighbors, family members, and friends who have struggled to find treatment. It should serve as a reminder of what can be achieved when we come together around important causes, work across party lines and put solving problems ahead of political considerations.”

Over 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of these numbers, 96 percent are concentrated in 13 states, including New York, with the highest rates reported in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Orange and Ulster counties.