Proposed legislation in Washington, S.B. 5448, was read during regular session on January 21, 2015, and referred to the Senate Health Care Committee, scheduled for hearing on February 2. The bill would allow specified practioners to treat patients dianosed with Lyme Disease using long term antibiotics, “for a therapeutic purpose that eliminates infections or controls the patient’s symptoms related to his or her diagnosis with Lyme disease.”
Since this post was initially posted, public comment was heard at a hearing on Feb. 2, 2015, and the Facebook page that was started to promote this effort (Ticked Off on Lyme WA) has been growing in following and information sharing. Per the founder of the page, who spoke at the hearing, as posted on the page:
~ Great Day in the Senate on Our Lyme Bill SB 5448 ~ Talked to the Chairs and they plan on moving the bill to the Floor for a vote ~ Thank You Lyme Sufferers that shared your personnel lives to educate the Committee.
A current bill report summarizes it as follows:
Physicians, osteopathic physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and osteopathic physician assistants may prescribe, administer, or dispense long-term antibiotic therapy to a patient who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease. The long-term antibiotic therapy must be for a therapeutic purpose that eliminates or controls the patient’s infection and symptoms. A provider may not be subject to professional disciplinary action solely based upon the provider prescribing, administering, or dispensing long-term antibiotic therapy to a patient who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Relevant Links So Far:
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Washington Residents, to comment:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5448
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Bill Information:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5448&year=2015
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Full Text of Bill (at first reading):
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5448.pdf
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Bill Report:
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5448%20SBA%20HLTH%2015.pdf
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Social Media Updates–New facebook page:
Ticked Off On Lyme WA
Invisibly Lyme Montana 
[…] posted twice lately about state-specific proposed legislation (Massachusetts and Washington) because even letters from out of state expressing information and support for better care have […]
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[…] Washington Proposed S.B. 5448 Would Allow Long Term Antibiotic Treatment For Lyme Disease […]
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Long Term Antibiotic Treatment has worked for so many people. Has taken them from crippled to a normal person. That is the reason for Long Term Antibiotic Treatment. Everyone against Long Term Antibiotic Treatment does NOT have lyme disease or know anyone suffering with this debilitating disease. They just repeat the misinformation w/o even thinking about what they are really doing. Believe you me if it were you or your child or your spouse suffering with the effects of Lyme disease then you would make a 180 & you would do it very quickly. How about you get a debilitating disease and feel like death. Would you not try Long Term Antibiotic Treatment. Damn straight you would.
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[…] Washington Proposed S.B. 5448 Would Allow Long Term Antibiotic Treatment For Lyme Disease […]
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[…] Washington Proposed S.B. 5448 Would Allow Long Term Antibiotic Treatment For Lyme Disease (Please see draft proposed legislation and/or summary) […]
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[…] Washington Proposed S.B. 5448 Would Allow Long Term Antibiotic Treatment For Lyme Disease […]
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