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| Minnesota Lyme Association Advancing awareness through support and education |
| Commissioner Mike Rothman Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 7th Place East, Suite 500 St. Paul, MN 55101 By fax: (651) 297-1959 Dear Commissioner Rothman: I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the fact that several constituents have contacted me recently to share their concerns about the fact that their health insurance providers have denied coverage for IV antibiotics to treat Lyme disease. In addition, Brenda Peltier, president of the Minnesota Lyme Association, reached out to me to bring to light the fact that their members are noticing more insurance denials as well. They are organizing an effort to send letters to insurance companies to remind them of their obligations in Minnesota Statutes § 62A.265 (Coverage for Lyme Disease): Subdivision 1.Required coverage. Every health plan, including a plan providing the coverage specified in section 62A.011, subdivision 3, clause (10), must cover treatment for diagnosed Lyme disease. Subd. 2.Special restrictions prohibited. No health plan included in subdivision 1 may impose a special deductible, co-payment, waiting period, or other special restriction on treatment for Lyme disease that the health plan does not apply to nonpreventive treatment in general. The number of Lyme disease cases has been increasing dramatically since the 1990s. You may not be aware of the fact that my district is ground-zero for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in Minnesota. In fact, almost 12 percent of all Lyme disease cases in Minnesota were reported in Crow Wing County. Cass County also ranks among the highest for incidence of Lyme disease, representing 5 percent of all reported cases. That is why I have worked diligently to combat Lyme disease in Minnesota with further efforts for prevention, and legislation, enacted in 2010, allowing physicians to more aggressively treat Lyme disease patients. Today I am asking for your help. Although I am aware that the Minnesota Department of Commerce does not have jurisdiction over self-insured plans, I hope that you will act on behalf of Lyme patients in Minnesota and ensure that the insurance plans under your control meet their obligations to cover the treatment methods the patient and doctor determine is best for them. Oftentimes, multiple treatment methods are needed to attack this crippling disease and the most beneficial healing method should be determined by medical professionals, not insurance companies. Thank you in advance for your time and attention to this serious matter. I look forward to receiving a response from you. If you have any questions, or if your policy staff feels that additional legislative action is needed, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (651) 296-4333. Sincerely, John Ward State Representative Cc: Brenda Peltier President, Minnesota Lyme Association bpeltier@spacecenterinc.com |
Letter sent from Representative John Ward to Dept. of Commerce
commissioner Mike Rothman. We encourage you to write a letter to
the commissioner if you have been denied insurance reimbursement
for Lyme disease!
commissioner Mike Rothman. We encourage you to write a letter to
the commissioner if you have been denied insurance reimbursement
for Lyme disease!