MN SF1631

Board of Medical Practice cannot impose disciplinary action solely for prescribing, administering, or dispensing long-term antibiotic therapy (antibiotics for more than 28 days) to patients clinically diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease.

Defines chronic Lyme disease as clinical diagnosis of signs or symptoms compatible with acute, late stage, persistent, or chronic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi or other Borrelia strains recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Clinical diagnosis may be based on medical history and physical examination alone or in conjunction with supportive testing.

Board may still impose disciplinary action against physicians who fail to monitor ongoing patient care or fail to maintain complete and accurate treatment records for patients receiving long-term antibiotic therapy.

Provision expires July 1, 2015, and becomes effective the day following final enactment.