NCLTDA Legislative Initiative

Doctor Protection Legislation in Virginia






WE NEED YOU AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO CONTACT THEIR VIRGINIA DELEGATES TO SUPPORT H.B. 512

Dear Fellow Virginians:

Great news for us all! Delegate Tom Rust has introduced H.B. 512, a bill in the Virginia House of Delegates relating to long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease. This bill allows a physician to prescribe, administer or dispense long-term antibiotic therapy to a patient diagnosed with Lyme or tick-borne disease. Also, it specifies that the Board of Medicine shall not initiate a disciplinary action against a licensed physician solely for prescribing, administering, or dispensing long-term antibiotic therapy to a patient clinically diagnosed with Lyme disease, provided such clinical diagnosis and treatment has been documented in the patient’s medical record by such licensed physician.

The single most important aspect of this legislation is that a physician can treat with antibiotics for more than 4 weeks without the fear of disciplinary action.

The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association endorses Delegate Rust’s bill. We have been working closely with Delegate Rust and his staff. We are asking everyone to call and write your own Virginia Delegate and Senator and ask them to sign-on to this bill.

We are asking you to contribute and participate in a variety of ways over the next 30 days.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW !!
 
  • Please READ the H.B. 512 bill Click Here to read Bill
  • FIND your delegate from the legislative links provided (See Below). Use the form letter supplied or compose and send your own message. The most effective way to reach your Virginia Delegate or Senator is by e-mail, fax and telephone. Tell your Delegate that you strongly support the bill and you are counting on their support. Ask him or her to sign-on to the bill as a co-sponsor.
  • CALL, e-mail or fax these instructions to your friends and relatives in Virginia and ask them to send a message to their Delegate in support of the bill.
  • COMEBACK To the NatCapLyme website for current updates.
IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN IMPROVE THE TREATMENT FOR LYME DISEASE IN VIRGINIA!

  Click Here to read Bill

IMPORTANT NEXT STEP

Please do this as soon as possible because the bill is currently in committee!!
Important    H.B. 512 has been referred to the Committee on Health Welfare and Institutions. It must   emerge from this committee to make it further in the legislative process.

Important    Regardless of where you live in Virginia, EVERYONE should write to all members of this committee and urge them to vote yes on H.B. 512 so that the full Virginia House of Delegates can vote to pass it.


Here are the members of the Committee:

 Health Welfare and Institutions

 

 Member NameEmail Address
 PartyDistrict
Chairman: Orrock, Robert D., Sr.
 DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov  R 54th
Vice Chairman: O'Bannon, John M., IIIDelJOBannon@house.virginia.gov  R 73rd
Athey, Clifford L., Jr.DelCAthey@house.virginia.gov  R 18th
BaCote, Mamye E.DelMBaCote@house.virginia.gov  D 95th
Bell, Richard P.DelDBell@house.virginia.gov  R 20th
Bell, Robert B.DelRBell@house.virginia.gov  R 58th
Crockett-Stark, Anne B.DelACrockett-Stark@house.virginia.gov  R 6th
Ebbin, Adam P.
DelAEbbin@house.virginia.gov  D 49th
Englin, David L.
DelDEnglin@house.virginia.gov  D 45th
Garrett, T. Scott
DelSGarrett@house.virginia.gov  R 23rd
Hope, Patrick A.DelPHope@house.virginia.gov  D 47th
Howell, Algie T., Jr.DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov  D 90th
Massie, James P. (Jimmie), IIIDelJMassie@house.virginia.gov  R 72nd
Merricks, Donald W.DelDMerricks@house.virginia.gov  R 16th
Morrissey, Joseph D.DelJMorrissey@house.virginia.gov  D 74th
Nixon, Samuel A., Jr.DelSNixon@house.virginia.gov  R 27th
Nutter, David A.
DelDNutter@house.virginia.gov  R 7th
O'Bannon, John M., IIIDelJOBannon@house.virginia.gov  R 73rd
Peace, Christopher K.DelCPeace@house.virginia.gov  R 97th
Pogge, Brenda L.DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov  R 96th
Sickles, Mark D.DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov D 43rd
Spruill, Lionell, Sr.DelLSpruill@house.virginia.gov  D 77th
Stolle, Christopher P.DelCStolle@house.virginia.gov  R 83rd


INSTRUCTIONS:

Click Here to Find Your Virginia State Senator and Delegate

When you get to your elected official, click on the Contact Tab, and then Click on the contact link to send an e-mail message.

Copy and paste the letter below OR draft your own letter and use it. The important thing is to ask for support for the bill.

SAMPLE LETTER

----------------------------------------- Copy Text Blow ----------------------------------
Copy the text below by highlighting it and right-clicking to Copy the text.
Then paste it in your word processing program, add your information, and e-mail it to your delegate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I am writing to make a most important request for your support. Please support Bill H.B. 512, introduced by Delegate Tom Rust, and consider becoming a cosponsor. This bill addresses the critical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and tick-borne diseases and deserves bipartisan support.

Lyme disease has become a problem of epidemic proportions in Virginia. Many of your constituents are afflicted with chronic forms of tick-borne diseases. Without the protection afforded by this legislation, treatment options for these victims are severely restricted and many infected with tick-borne disease are unable to obtain proper treatment. This bill is desperately needed to provide physicians with the protection they need to treat based on their legitimate, good-faith medical judgment.

I have read the language of this bill and recognize how clearly this bill is designed to help my loved ones, friends and me. I am asking you to cosponsor and commit your support to Bill H.B. 512

Thank you for your help and support.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Address
Your Contact Information