Doctors can prescribe long-term antibiotics

As of June 9, 2011, Granite State doctors were officially given the power to treat Lyme disease with long-term administration of antibiotics, thanks to a piece of legislation that became law without the signature of Gov. John Lynch.

According to a report in Foster's Daily Democrat, House Bill 295 says doctors who prescribe this course of treatment for their patients "cannot be punished by the Board of Medicine because of such prescriptions."

"The bill's prime sponsor, Gary Daniels, R-Milford, said the bill is an important step in helping both patients and doctors as it acknowledges chronic Lyme disease is a real ailment," the paper reported.