How do LLMD's prescribe long term ABX if Lyme is so controversial?

Just wondering how do LLMD's prescribe multi-month or even year long ABX prescriptions for Lyme when non-acute Lyme is hardly recognized by any insurance company or anyone in the mainstream medical community? Do the LLMDs who write the scripts actually put down "Lyme" as the diagnosis for the long term pharmaceutical treatment (which insurance hopefully covers?)

I am Canadian, and I am so thankful that in BC, ND's are now able to prescribe antibiotics. I couldn't afford to go to the U.S.
We are also lucky to have Blue Cross that covers 80% of most of the meds.


I don't know how anyone manages to pay out of pocket for the LLMD appointments, and the meds, along with the supplements.
Talk about adding more stress to an unbelievably high stress situation.

Yes, it is legal for doctors to prescribe long term antibiotics. They do it all the time for diseases such as tuberculosis, Whipple's disease, and more, including chronic acne.

An LLMD simply writes out a prescription and you take it to the pharmacy, as you would any prescription.

Insurance companies vary greatly in what they will cover. Mine pays for almost all of my medications (minus a deductible payable at the beginning of the year) but only pays $25 of the $130 doctor fee, classifying it as an out of network doctor's visit.

At one point the insurance company refused to pay for the $500 malarone my doctor ordered, so, with an almost gleeful grin he wrote out a prescription for mepron, which is about $1500. The insurance company hasn't questioned anything since.

Now why LLMD's get in trouble is because prescribing long term antibiotics is not approved by the governing medical associations. Doctors in general are supposed to follow the rules of practice laid out by these associations, as well as state and federal laws. Usually there has to be a reason for one of these governing bodies to go after a doctor. One example would be if there were a wrongful death suit, or some kind of complaint like the husband who prosecuted his wife's doctor because he didn't agree with the long term antibiotic therapy. In the majority of LLMD practices this kind of thing doesn't happen, but they have to keep their heads down. My doctor won't prescribe narcotic pain-killers because that could draw too much attention from the authorities.

I think that it is becoming widely recognized that antibiotics are necessary for treating these tick-borne diseases and disciplinary action is being used for the wackier types cures. After all, even the Infectious Disease doctors have expanded their recommended course of antibiotics from two to four weeks and sometimes longer.

Hope this answers your questions!