Tick Boot Camp Episode 469: LIVE from ILADS: Jennifer Barrett – Lyme Disease Advocacy & Legal Reform
Mar 23, 2025
17:04
Jennifer Barrett, a Lyme disease patient-turned-advocate and Doctor of Law (JD), joins us live from the ILADS Conference to share her powerful journey. Diagnosed at just 10 years old, Jennifer faced significant challenges in accessing proper treatment and navigating financial and insurance hurdles. Now, she’s using her legal expertise to push for policy changes and improved insurance coverage for Lyme patients.
Key Takeaways:
- Jennifer’s early Lyme disease diagnosis and struggles navigating the healthcare system in Connecticut, the birthplace of Lyme disease.
- The financial and insurance-related barriers that make long-term treatment difficult for Lyme patients.
- How her personal experience inspired her to earn a law degree and advocate for legislative change.
- Insights from her published law review article, Lyme: Why Congress Must Enact Medical Insurance Coverage for Lyme Disease Patients Now.
- Her ongoing efforts to work with state and federal representatives to push for meaningful policy changes.
This episode sheds light on the patient experience and the urgent need for legal and insurance reforms in Lyme disease care. Jennifer’s advocacy is a testament to the power of patient-driven change in the fight for better treatment and coverage.
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