(a) The Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board (“the Board”) is established to implement health-care professional education on Lyme disease to improve understanding of the disease. The goal of the Board is to educate health-care professionals regarding the need for a unified strategy to combat Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases in Delaware. For administrative and budgetary purposes only, the Board shall be placed within the Department of Health and Social Services. The Delaware Division of Public Health shall provide staff support for the Board.
(b) The Board shall consist of 11 members who possess the qualifications and are appointed as follows:
(1) The Governor shall appoint the following members:
a. Two members who are advocates for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease, such as a Lyme disease patient or patient advocate.
b. One member who is a physician licensed to practice medicine in Delaware and is a board-certified infectious disease specialist who has experience in the treatment of patients with Lyme disease, in consultation with the Medical Society of Delaware.
c. One member who is a nurse licensed to practice nursing in Delaware who has experience in the treatment of patients with Lyme disease.
d. One member who is a health-care professional licensed to practice in Delaware other than a physician or nurse and who has experience in the treatment of patients with Lyme disease.
e. One individual who has knowledge and experience in the education of health-care practitioners.
(2) The Pro Tempore of the Delaware State Senate shall appoint 2 members as follows:
a. A member of the public at large.
b. One infectious disease epidemiologist.
(3) The Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives shall appoint 2 members as follows:
a. A member of the public at large.
b. One Delaware-licensed veterinarian or entomology specialist.
(4) The Director of the Division of Public Health, or the Director’s designee.
(c) The Board shall:
(1) Determine the content of Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases medical education materials, ensuring quality and balanced medical education by including the philosophies of the Centers For Disease Control, the guidelines established by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, as well as the latest scientific evidence and research relating to Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases.
(2) Educate health-care professionals in the State that Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases can be diagnosed clinically based on history and physical examination, and serologic antibody testing can confirm, but is not required to make, a clinical diagnosis.
(3) Educate health-care professionals to develop a high level of awareness of Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases.
(4) In conjunction with the Medical Society of Delaware and the Delaware Nurses Association, develop continuing medical education credits and nursing continuing education units on Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases and encourage health-care professionals to take the continuing education courses as soon as reasonably practicable.
(5) Host continuing medical education and nursing continuing education trainings relating to Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases in all 3 counties and, if reasonably practicable, at hospitals to encourage the largest possible attendance by health-care professionals.
(6) Deliver education in a variety of methods, using professional associations, medical journals, radio, Internet, conferences, and linking medical training with a public awareness campaign relating to Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases.
(d) The Governor shall appoint members for an initial term of 1 year, and thereafter shall appoint members for staggered terms so that no more than 3 members’ terms expire in any 1 calendar year. An appointed member serves for a term of up to 3 years and is eligible for reappointment.
(1) The members appointed by the Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 2 members who are advocates for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease are appointed for an initial term of 3 years.
(2)-(4) [Repealed.]
(e) The Board shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
(f) A majority of members appointed to the Board shall constitute a quorum to conduct official business.
(g) [Repealed.]
(h) Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, except that they shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incident to their duties as members of the Board excluding mileage. The Department shall pay such expenses.
(i) The Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual report that contains, at a minimum, all of the following information:
(1) The title, description, and schedule of continuing medical education and nursing continuing education courses related to Lyme disease education.
(2) Attendance of continuing medical education and nursing continuing education courses by the health-care professional population.
(3) Specific accounting of fees and costs.