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| PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 320 | PRINTER'S NO. 1992 |
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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, ARGALL, TARTAGLIONE, BROWNE, RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, COSTA, WAUGH, FONTANA, BOSCOLA, SMUCKER, PICCOLA, BAKER, McILHINNEY, DINNIMAN, FARNESE, BLAKE AND KASUNIC, JANUARY 31, 2011 |
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| SENATOR D. WHITE, BANKING AND INSURANCE, AS AMENDED, MARCH 7, 2012 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Establishing a task force on Lyme disease and related maladies; |
2 | and providing for powers and duties of the task force, the |
3 | Department of Health, the Department of Conservation and |
4 | Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to |
5 | execute prevention and education strategies and ensure | <-- |
6 | patient access to appropriate care and treatment. |
7 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
8 | hereby enacts as follows: |
9 | Section 1. Short title. | <-- |
10 | This act shall be known and may be cited as the Lyme and |
11 | Related Tick-Borne Disease Education, Prevention and Treatment |
12 | Act. |
13 | Section 2. Findings. |
14 | The General Assembly finds that: |
15 | (1) Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are |
16 | carried primarily by ticks and pose a serious threat to the |
17 | health and quality of life of many citizens of this |
18 | Commonwealth. |
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1 | (2) The most common way to acquire Lyme disease is to be |
2 | bitten by a tick that carries the spirochete. |
3 | (3) In 2009, 5,722 cases of Lyme disease were reported |
4 | in this Commonwealth, the highest number of cases reported in |
5 | any state, and representing a 76% increase since 2006. |
6 | (4) Lyme disease is most prevalent in Southeastern |
7 | Pennsylvania, but it is found across this Commonwealth. |
8 | (5) With proper precautions taken while engaged in |
9 | outdoor activities, people can greatly reduce their chances |
10 | of tick pathogen transmission by making sure that frequent |
11 | tick checks are made and ticks are removed and disposed of |
12 | promptly and properly. |
13 | (6) The early clinical diagnosis and appropriate |
14 | treatment of these tick-borne disorders and diseases can |
15 | greatly reduce the risks of continued, diverse and chronic |
16 | signs and symptoms which can affect every system and organ of |
17 | the human body and often every aspect of life. |
18 | (7) Left untreated, Lyme disease can cause a number of |
19 | signs and symptoms which can become quite severe. |
20 | (8) Because of differences in the rate of progress of |
21 | the disease and in individual responses to the disease and |
22 | treatment, some patients may have signs and symptoms for |
23 | months or years. |
24 | Section 3. Legislative intent. |
25 | It is the intent of the General Assembly: |
26 | (1) To provide the public with information and education |
27 | to create greater public awareness of the dangers of and |
28 | measures available to prevent, diagnose and treat Lyme |
29 | disease and related maladies. |
30 | (2) To ensure that: |
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1 | (i) Physicians, certified registered nurse |
2 | practitioners, insurers, patients and governmental |
3 | agencies are educated that multiple standards of care |
4 | exist. |
5 | (ii) Physicians and other medical professionals |
6 | provide patients with sufficient information about all |
7 | standards of care to enable patients to make an informed |
8 | choice as part of informed consent and respect the |
9 | autonomy of that choice. |
10 | (iii) Physicians have the right to exercise their |
11 | clinical judgment in diagnosing and treating their |
12 | patients and in applying short-term or long-term |
13 | antibiotic therapies for a therapeutic purpose to |
14 | eliminate infection or to control a patient's symptoms as |
15 | reflected in the patient's medical record. |
16 | (iv) Insurance reimbursement be provided for |
17 | treatment rendered in accordance with the standard of |
18 | care chosen. |
19 | (v) Pennsylvania government agencies provide |
20 | unbiased information regarding multiple standards of |
21 | care. |
22 | Section 4. Definitions. |
23 | The following words and phrases when used in this act shall |
24 | have the meanings given to them in this section unless the |
25 | context clearly indicates otherwise: |
26 | "Board." The State Board of Medicine or the State Board of |
27 | Osteopathic Medicine. |
28 | "CDC surveillance case definitions." Definitions that |
29 | establish uniform criteria for disease reporting and should not |
30 | be used as the sole criteria for establishing clinical |
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1 | diagnoses, determining the standard of care necessary for a |
2 | particular patient, setting guidelines for quality assurance or |
3 | providing standards for insurance reimbursement. |
4 | "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth. |
5 | "Licensee." A licensed physician or doctor of osteopathy or |
6 | a certified registered nurse practitioner. |
7 | "Long-term antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy." |
8 | Administration of oral, intramuscular or intravenous antibiotics |
9 | or antimicrobial medications, singly or in combination, for |
10 | periods of more than four weeks. |
11 | "Lyme disease." The clinical diagnosis of the presence in a |
12 | patient of signs and symptoms compatible with acute infection |
13 | with Borrelia burgdorferi or related Borrelioses, or with the |
14 | signs and symptoms of late stage or chronic infection with |
15 | Borrelia burgdorferi, or with complications related to such an |
16 | infection. The term includes infection which meets the CDC |
17 | surveillance case definitions. It also includes other acute and |
18 | chronic manifestations as clinically determined by the treating |
19 | physician. |
20 | "Related tick-borne illnesses." Cases of Bartonella, |
21 | babesiosis/piroplasmosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and other |
22 | tick-transmissible illnesses. The terms do not include Lyme |
23 | disease. |
24 | "Standard of care." Short-term or long-term antibiotic |
25 | therapies prescribed by a licensed physician to a patient for a |
26 | therapeutic purpose to eliminate infection or to control a |
27 | patient's symptoms, provided the clinical diagnosis and |
28 | treatment are documented in the patient's medical record by the |
29 | licensed physician. |
30 | "Therapeutic purpose." The use of antibiotics to control a |
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1 | patient's symptoms or signs determined by the treating physician |
2 | as reasonably related to Lyme disease and related tick-borne |
3 | illnesses. |
4 | Section 5. Task force. |
5 | (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish a task |
6 | force on Lyme disease and related tick-borne diseases. |
7 | (b) Purpose.--The task force shall investigate and make |
8 | recommendations to the department regarding: |
9 | (1) The prevention of Lyme disease and related tick- |
10 | borne illnesses in this Commonwealth. |
11 | (2) Raising awareness about the long-term effects of the |
12 | misdiagnosis of Lyme disease. |
13 | (3) Development of a program of general public and |
14 | medical professional information and education regarding Lyme |
15 | disease which shall include the broad spectrum of scientific |
16 | and treatment views regarding Lyme disease and related tick- |
17 | borne illnesses, including multiple standards of care |
18 | available for all stages of Lyme disease and related tick- |
19 | borne illnesses. |
20 | (4) Cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to |
21 | disseminate the information required under paragraph (3) to |
22 | licensees of the commission and the general public. |
23 | (5) Cooperation with the Department of Conservation and |
24 | Natural Resources to disseminate the information required |
25 | under paragraph (3) to the general public and visitors of |
26 | State parks and lands. |
27 | (6) Cooperation with the Department of Education to: |
28 | (i) Disseminate the information required under |
29 | paragraph (3) to school administrators, faculty and |
30 | staff, parents, guardians and students. |
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1 | (ii) Determine what role schools may play in the |
2 | prevention of Lyme disease, including, but not limited |
3 | to, prompt removal and reporting of tick removals to |
4 | State officials. |
5 | (iii) Update policies to recognize chronic Lyme |
6 | disease and related tick-borne illnesses as health |
7 | conditions potentially requiring accommodations. |
8 | (c) Composition.--The task force shall be composed of the |
9 | following individuals: |
10 | (1) The Secretary of Health or a designee. |
11 | (2) The Insurance Commissioner or a designee. |
12 | (3) The Secretary of Education or a designee. |
13 | (4) The Deputy Secretary for Conservation and |
14 | Engineering Services in the Department of Conservation and |
15 | Natural Resources or a designee. |
16 | (5) The Director of the Bureau of Information and |
17 | Education of the Pennsylvania Game Commission or a designee. |
18 | (6) Two physicians licensed in this Commonwealth who are |
19 | knowledgeable concerning treatment of early and late stage |
20 | chronic or persistent Lyme disease and who are members of the |
21 | International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. |
22 | (7) An epidemiologist licensed in this Commonwealth who |
23 | has expertise in spirochetes and related infectious diseases. |
24 | (8) Two individuals who represent Lyme disease patient |
25 | groups who may be a Lyme disease patient or a family member |
26 | of a Lyme disease patient. |
27 | (9) One individual who is a Lyme disease patient or |
28 | family member of a Lyme disease patient. |
29 | (d) Convening.--The task force shall convene within 90 days |
30 | after all appointments have been made and shall meet at least |
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1 | quarterly. |
2 | (e) Compensation and expenses.--The members of the task |
3 | force shall receive no compensation for their services but shall |
4 | be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in |
5 | performance of their duties. Reimbursement shall be provided by |
6 | the department. |
7 | (f) Department.--The department shall have the following |
8 | powers and duties: |
9 | (1) Develop a program of general public information and |
10 | education regarding Lyme disease which shall include the |
11 | broad spectrum of scientific and treating views regarding |
12 | Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses, including |
13 | multiple standards of care available for all stages of Lyme |
14 | disease and related tick-borne illnesses. |
15 | (2) Cooperate with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to |
16 | disseminate the information required under paragraph (1) to |
17 | licensees of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the general |
18 | public. |
19 | (3) Cooperate with the Department of Conservation and |
20 | Natural Resources to disseminate the information required |
21 | under paragraph (1) to the general public and visitors of |
22 | State parks and lands. |
23 | (4) Cooperate with the Department of Education to: |
24 | (i) Disseminate the information required under |
25 | paragraph (1) to school administrators, faculty and |
26 | staff, parents, guardians and students. |
27 | (ii) Determine what role schools may play in the |
28 | prevention of Lyme disease, including, but not limited |
29 | to, prompt removal and reporting of tick removals to |
30 | State officials. |
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1 | (iii) Update policies to recognize chronic Lyme |
2 | disease and related tick-borne illnesses as health |
3 | conditions potentially requiring accommodations. |
4 | (5) Cooperate with the professional associations of |
5 | health care professionals to provide the education program |
6 | for professionals required under paragraph (1). |
7 | Section 6. Required coverage. |
8 | (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), |
9 | every health care policy which is delivered, issued for |
10 | delivery, renewed, extended or modified in this Commonwealth by |
11 | a health insurer must cover prescribed treatment for Lyme |
12 | disease and related tick-borne illness rendered in accordance |
13 | with the standard of care and documented in the physician's |
14 | medical record for that patient and with the informed choice and |
15 | consent of the patient. |
16 | (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to any of the |
17 | following types of insurance: |
18 | (1) Hospital indemnity. |
19 | (2) Accident. |
20 | (3) Specified disease. |
21 | (4) Disability income. |
22 | (5) Dental. |
23 | (6) Vision. |
24 | (7) Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed |
25 | Services (CHAMPUS) supplement. |
26 | (8) Medicare supplement. |
27 | (9) Long-term care. |
28 | (10) Other limited insurance benefit plans. |
29 | Section 7. Licensee's right to diagnose and treat lyme disease |
30 | and related tick-borne illnesses. |
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1 | (a) Rights included.-- |
2 | (1) A licensee may prescribe, administer or dispense |
3 | antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy for therapeutic purposes |
4 | to a person diagnosed with and having symptoms or signs of |
5 | Lyme disease or related tick-borne illnesses if the diagnosis |
6 | and standard of care have been documented in the licensee's |
7 | medical record for that patient. |
8 | (2) No licensee shall be subject to professional |
9 | misconduct proceedings or to disciplinary action by the board |
10 | solely for prescribing, administering or dispensing long-term |
11 | antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy for a therapeutic purpose |
12 | for a patient clinically diagnosed with Lyme disease or |
13 | related tick-borne illnesses if the diagnosis and standard of |
14 | care have been documented in the licensee's medical record |
15 | for that patient. |
16 | (b) Denial, revocation or suspension of license or |
17 | discipline of licensee.--Nothing in this section shall diminish |
18 | the right of the board to deny, revoke or suspend the license of |
19 | a licensee or discipline a licensee who: |
20 | (1) prescribes, administers or dispenses long-term |
21 | antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy for a nontherapeutic |
22 | purpose; |
23 | (2) fails to monitor the ongoing care of a patient |
24 | receiving long-term antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy; or |
25 | (3) fails to keep complete and accurate ongoing records |
26 | of the diagnosis and treatment of a patient receiving long- |
27 | term antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy. |
28 | Section 8. Professional misconduct proceedings. |
29 | (a) General rule.--Whenever the board initiates, or has |
30 | initiated, investigations or professional misconduct proceedings |
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1 | against a licensee as a result of a complaint filed by an |
2 | insurance company, pharmacy benefit manager or comprehensive |
3 | health services plan under this act, which in whole or in part |
4 | concerns the licensee's diagnosis or treatment of Lyme disease |
5 | or a related tick-borne illness, a copy of the complaint shall |
6 | be provided to the licensee within ten days after the licensee's |
7 | request. |
8 | (b) Requirements of charges.--Whenever charges are made |
9 | which, in whole or in part, concern a licensee's diagnosis or |
10 | treatment of Lyme disease or a related tick-borne illness, the |
11 | charges shall contain a statement of facts sufficient to allow a |
12 | judicial determination as to whether the charges are proper |
13 | under this section. |
14 | (c) Notice of hearing.--Whenever a notice of hearing is |
15 | served in which the charges or allegations against the licensee, |
16 | in whole or in part, concern the licensee's diagnosis or |
17 | treatment of Lyme disease or a related tick-borne illness or the |
18 | administration of long-term antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy |
19 | or concern any patient who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease |
20 | or a related tick-borne illness, the notice shall contain the |
21 | identity of any expert consulted by the board or to be called to |
22 | testify by the board and the substance of the opinion of the |
23 | expert. |
24 | Section 9. Applicability. |
25 | This act shall apply to proceedings pending on or after the |
26 | effective date of this section. |
27 | Section 10. Effective date. |
28 | This act shall take effect immediately. |
29 | Section 1. Short title. | <-- |
30 | This act shall be known and may be cited as the Lyme and |
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1 | Related Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance, Education, Prevention |
2 | and Treatment Act. |
3 | Section 2. Findings. |
4 | The General Assembly finds that: |
5 | (1) Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are |
6 | carried primarily by ticks and pose a serious threat to the |
7 | health and quality of life of many citizens of this |
8 | Commonwealth. |
9 | (2) The most common way to acquire Lyme disease is to be |
10 | bitten by a tick that carries the spirochete. |
11 | (3) In 2009, 5,722 cases of Lyme disease were reported |
12 | in this Commonwealth, the highest number of cases reported in |
13 | any state, and representing a 76% increase since 2006. In |
14 | 2010, provisional numbers of 6,277 cases, confirm this |
15 | ongoing upward trend. |
16 | (4) These trends illustrate the World Health |
17 | Organization's (WHO) projections through 2100. The WHO states |
18 | that Lyme disease will increasingly become a public health |
19 | threat in the United States. Pennsylvania needs to be |
20 | prepared to deal with this trend, which is already being |
21 | observed in Pennsylvania's statistics. |
22 | (5) Lyme disease is most prevalent in Southeastern |
23 | Pennsylvania, but it is found across this Commonwealth. |
24 | (6) With proper precautions taken while engaged in |
25 | outdoor activities, people can greatly reduce their chances |
26 | of tick pathogen transmission by making sure that frequent |
27 | tick checks are made and ticks are removed and disposed of |
28 | promptly and properly. |
29 | (7) The early clinical diagnosis and appropriate |
30 | treatment of these tick-borne disorders and diseases can |
|
1 | greatly reduce the risks of continued symptoms which can |
2 | affect every system and organ of the human body and often |
3 | every aspect of life. |
4 | (8) Left untreated, Lyme disease can cause a number of |
5 | signs and symptoms which can become quite severe. |
6 | Section 3. Legislative intent. |
7 | It is the intent of the General Assembly: |
8 | (1) To provide the public with information and education |
9 | to create greater public awareness of the dangers of and |
10 | measures available to prevent, diagnose and treat Lyme |
11 | disease and related maladies. |
12 | (2) To ensure that: |
13 | (i) Licensees, insurers, patients and governmental |
14 | agencies are educated about treatment options. |
15 | (ii) Licensees provide patients with sufficient |
16 | information about treatment options to enable patients to |
17 | make an informed choice as part of informed consent and |
18 | to respect the autonomy of that choice. |
19 | (iii) Pennsylvania government agencies provide |
20 | unbiased information regarding treatment options. |
21 | Section 4. Definitions. |
22 | The following words and phrases when used in this act shall |
23 | have the meanings given to them in this section unless the |
24 | context clearly indicates otherwise: |
25 | "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth. |
26 | "Licensee." A licensed physician, a physician's assistant, a |
27 | certified registered nurse practitioner or other licensed health |
28 | care professional. |
29 | "Lyme disease." The clinical diagnosis of a patient by a |
30 | licensed physician or certified registered nurse practitioner of |
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1 | the presence of signs or symptoms compatible with acute, late- |
2 | stage, persistent infection with Borrelia burgdorferi or |
3 | complications related to such infection or with such other |
4 | strains of Borrelia that are recognized by the Centers for |
5 | Disease Control and Prevention as a cause of Lyme disease. The |
6 | term includes infection that meets the surveillance criteria |
7 | established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
8 | and other acute and persistent manifestations of such an |
9 | infection as determined by a physician. |
10 | "Related tick-borne illness." A case of Bartonella, |
11 | babesiosis/piroplasmosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis or other |
12 | tick-transmissible illness. The term does not include Lyme |
13 | disease. |
14 | "Secretary." The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth. |
15 | "State officials." The term includes the Secretary of |
16 | Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth. |
17 | "Task force." The task force established by this act. |
18 | Section 5. Task force. |
19 | (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish a task |
20 | force on Lyme disease and related tick-borne diseases. |
21 | (b) Purpose.--The task force shall investigate and make |
22 | recommendations to the department regarding: |
23 | (1) The surveillance and prevention of Lyme disease and |
24 | related tick-borne illnesses in this Commonwealth. |
25 | (2) Raising awareness about the long-term effects of the |
26 | misdiagnosis of Lyme disease. |
27 | (3) Development of a program of general public and |
28 | health care professional information and education regarding |
29 | Lyme disease which shall include the broad spectrum of |
30 | scientific and treatment options regarding all stages of Lyme |
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1 | disease and related tick-borne illnesses. |
2 | (4) Cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to |
3 | disseminate the information required under paragraph (3) to |
4 | licensees of the commission and the general public. |
5 | (5) Cooperation with the Department of Conservation and |
6 | Natural Resources to disseminate the information required |
7 | under paragraph (3) to the general public and visitors of |
8 | State parks and lands. |
9 | (6) Cooperation with the Department of Education to: |
10 | (i) Disseminate the information required under |
11 | paragraph (3) to school administrators, faculty and |
12 | staff, parents, guardians and students. |
13 | (ii) Determine what role schools may play in the |
14 | prevention of Lyme disease, including, but not limited |
15 | to, prompt removal and reporting of tick removals to |
16 | State officials. |
17 | (iii) Update policies to recognize signs or symptoms |
18 | of Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses as |
19 | health conditions potentially requiring accommodations. |
20 | (7) Cooperation of the Department of Environmental |
21 | Protection to test ticks and provide results and to publish |
22 | infection rates on its publicly accessible Internet website. |
23 | (c) Composition..--The task force shall be composed of the |
24 | following individuals: |
25 | (1) The secretary or a designee. |
26 | (2) The Secretary of the Commonwealth or a designee. |
27 | (3) The Secretary of Education or a designee. |
28 | (4) The Deputy Secretary for Conservation and |
29 | Engineering Services in the Department of Conservation and |
30 | Natural Resources or a designee. |
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1 | (5) The Director of the Bureau of Information and |
2 | Education of the Pennsylvania Game Commission or a designee. |
3 | (6) Two physicians licensed in this Commonwealth who are |
4 | knowledgeable concerning treatment of Lyme disease and |
5 | related tick-borne illness and who are members of the |
6 | International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. |
7 | (7) Two physicians licensed in this Commonwealth who are |
8 | knowledgeable concerning treatment of Lyme disease and |
9 | related tick-borne illness and who are members of the |
10 | Infectious Diseases Society of America. |
11 | (8) An epidemiologist licensed in this Commonwealth who |
12 | has expertise in spirochetes and related infectious diseases. |
13 | (9) Two individuals who represent Lyme disease patient |
14 | groups who may be a Lyme disease patient or a family member |
15 | of a Lyme disease patient. |
16 | (10) One individual who is a Lyme disease patient or |
17 | family member of a Lyme disease patient. |
18 | (11) Two registered nurses licensed in this |
19 | Commonwealth, one of whom is a certified registered nurse |
20 | practitioner and both of whom are knowledgeable concerning |
21 | Lyme disease and related tick-borne illness. |
22 | (12) The Director of Vector Management of the |
23 | Department of Environmental Protection. |
24 | (13) An entomologist with the Department of Entomology |
25 | of The Pennsylvania State University who has experience in |
26 | tick identification and tick borne diseases. |
27 | (14) A registered school nurse licensed in this |
28 | Commonwealth who is knowledgeable concerning Lyme disease and |
29 | related tick-borne illness. |
30 | (15) Two veterinarians licensed in this Commonwealth, at |
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1 | least one of whom is a veterinary epidemiologist and both of |
2 | whom are knowledgeable concerning Lyme disease and related |
3 | tick-borne illness. |
4 | (d) Meetings.-- |
5 | (1) Within 45 days of the effective date of this |
6 | section, the secretary shall appoint the members of the task |
7 | force. The secretary shall appoint a chairman of the task |
8 | force. |
9 | (2) The task force shall convene within 90 days of the |
10 | effective date of this section and shall meet at least |
11 | quarterly. |
12 | (3) The task force shall issue a report with |
13 | recommendations to the secretary within one year of its first |
14 | meeting. The report shall also be transmitted to the Public |
15 | Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate and the Health |
16 | Committee of the House of Representatives. |
17 | (4) Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit |
18 | the task force from making interim reports. |
19 | (e) Compensation and expenses.--The members of the task |
20 | force shall receive no compensation for their services but shall |
21 | be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in |
22 | performance of their duties. Reimbursement shall be provided by |
23 | the department. |
24 | (f) Duties of department.--The department shall: |
25 | (1) Develop a program of general public information and |
26 | education regarding Lyme disease which shall include the |
27 | broad spectrum of scientific and treating options regarding |
28 | all stages of Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses. |
29 | (2) Develop an intensive program including active |
30 | population-based surveillance, active tick surveillance and |
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1 | sentinel (nonhuman) data to provide a better understanding |
2 | of, including, but not limited to, diseases, geographic hot |
3 | spots and infectivity to be used in targeting prevention and |
4 | education efforts. |
5 | (3) Cooperate with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to |
6 | disseminate the information required under paragraph (1) to |
7 | licensees of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the general |
8 | public. |
9 | (4) Cooperate with the Department of Conservation and |
10 | Natural Resources to disseminate the information required |
11 | under paragraph (1) to the general public and visitors of |
12 | State parks and lands. |
13 | (5) Cooperate with the Department of Education to: |
14 | (i) Disseminate the information required under |
15 | paragraph (1) to school administrators, school nurses, |
16 | faculty and staff, parents, guardians and students. |
17 | (ii) Determine what role schools may play in the |
18 | prevention of Lyme disease, including, but not limited |
19 | to, prompt removal and reporting of tick removals to |
20 | State officials. |
21 | (iii) Update policies to recognize signs or symptoms |
22 | of Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses as |
23 | health conditions potentially requiring accommodations. |
24 | (6) Cooperate with professional associations of health |
25 | care professionals to provide the education program for |
26 | professionals required under paragraph (1). |
27 | (7) Cooperate with the Department of Environmental |
28 | Protection to disseminate tick infection information required |
29 | under paragraph (1) to health care professionals and the |
30 | general public. |
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1 | (8) Cooperate with the Pennsylvania State University, |
2 | Department of Entomology, cooperative extension program for |
3 | integrated pest management, to disseminate educational |
4 | resources about ticks, related diseases and integrated pest |
5 | management for disease prevention as required under paragraph |
6 | (1) to health care professionals and the general public. |
7 | Section 6. Effective date. |
8 | This act shall take effect immediately. |
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