IL HB0889

Adds Section 356z.33 to the Illinois Insurance Code requiring coverage for long-term antibiotic therapy (antibiotics administered for more than 4 weeks) for tick-borne diseases when medically necessary and ordered by a licensed physician.

Defines tick-borne diseases to include severe borrelia burgdorferi infections, late-stage or chronic infections, other borrelia strains recognized by the CDC, and signs or symptoms compatible with acute tick-borne infections.

Requires coverage of necessary office visits and ongoing testing related to long-term antibiotic therapy for tick-borne diseases in all individual and group accident and health insurance policies and managed care plans amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date.

Mandates coverage of experimental drugs approved by the FDA and off-label use of FDA-approved drugs for treating tick-borne diseases.

Applies the new tick-borne disease coverage requirements to Health Maintenance Organizations and the Illinois medical assistance program (Medicaid).