SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 861

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:JUNE 20, 1996

      The Senate Health Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 861.

      This bill requires hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, commercial insurers and health maintenance organizations to provide benefits for the treatment of Lyme disease determined to be medically necessary by the covered person's physician after making a written evaluation of that person's symptoms, condition and response to treatment. Treatment otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this bill could not be denied because such treatment may be characterized as experimental or investigational in nature.