US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND ILADS ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE LYME AND CHRONIC DISEASE CARE

Washington, D.C. — May 29th — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) today announced a new public-private collaboration aimed at strengthening national efforts around Lyme disease, tickborne illnesses, IACCIs, related complex chronic conditions, and invisible illness.

This public-private collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to improve patient access to care by improving clinician locator tools and related digital infrastructure. By leveraging ILADS’s clinical network and expertise, the partnership will also support broader awareness and information-sharing efforts around Lyme disease and complex chronic conditions.

Lyme disease impacts nearly half a million Americans each year, with cases continuing to rise as ticks expand geographically across the United States. And yet, for many patients, diagnosis and care remain complex and difficult to access.

“For too long, patients with Lyme and complex chronic conditions have faced challenges accessing timely and appropriate diagnosis and care,” said ILADS Executive Director, Sarah Quillen. “This collaboration creates an opportunity to better support those patients while strengthening the resources available to clinicians.”

The partnership builds on broader federal efforts to accelerate progress in Lyme disease and related conditions, including initiatives focused on advancing diagnostics, driving research and innovation, and incorporating patient perspectives into research and care models.

Through this collaboration, HHS and ILADS will strengthen coordination across public health and clinical communities – expanding awareness, improving education, and increasing access to care nationwide.

With hundreds of thousands of Americans impacted each year, this collaboration reflects a growing national focus on improving how Lyme disease and complex chronic conditions are recognized and addressed. The MOU establishes a framework for ongoing collaboration while maintaining the independent roles and responsibilities of each organization.

Together, HHS and ILADS aim to improve patient outcomes and advance how these conditions are understood, diagnosed, and addressed throughout the country.

For more information on ILADS, please visit the website or contact ILADS directly at contact@ilads.org.

About ILADS
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary medical society dedicated to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Through education and research, ILADS aims to improve the lives of patients suffering from these complex conditions For more information visit https://www.ilads.org/.

Contact:
Alex Moresco
Phone: 630-338-2385
Email: alex@amorescopr.com