NY A04598

All accident and health insurers, group/blanket policies, and medical expense indemnity corporations must provide coverage for all costs of treating Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens, including intravenous antibiotic therapy, oral antibiotic therapy, and other physician-recommended treatments.

Establishes the "tick borne illness research, detection and education fund" jointly overseen by the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance and the Comptroller to receive revenues and grants for tick-borne illness research, detection, and education projects.

Allows individual taxpayers to voluntarily contribute whole dollar amounts to the tick-borne illness fund on personal income tax returns without reducing their tax liability.

Allows corporate taxpayers to voluntarily contribute whole dollar amounts to the tick-borne illness fund on corporate income tax returns without reducing their tax liability.

Takes effect 120 days after enactment, with Commissioner of Health authorized to expend all monies received during a fiscal year by the end of that fiscal year where practicable.