Secretary Kennedy Convenes Lyme Disease Patients and Providers to Announce New Diagnostic Efforts

WASHINGTON - December 15, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today convened Lyme disease patients, clinicians, and researchers for a roundtable on diagnostics and clinical needs moderated by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The event fulfills commitments made in the Make America Healthy Again Commission Strategy Report to address chronic and often unseen illnesses that affect millions of Americans.

"For decades, Americans suffering from Lyme disease have been denied the accurate diagnostics and meaningful care they deserve," said Secretary Kennedy. "Today's actions push us decisively toward reliable testing and treatment grounded in the real-world experiences of patients. We are committed to delivering the tools that families have waited far too long to receive."

Participants shared their experiences and recommendations on improving care and advancing research. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) also engaged in the discussions.

As part of today's event, HHS announced the renewal of the LymeX Innovation Accelerator with the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation that began during President Trump's first term. Established in 2020, LymeX is the largest public-private partnership ever built to improve Lyme disease diagnostics and care. The $10 million initiative will advance artificial intelligence tools that support earlier and more accurate detection across stages of infection.

Lyme has infected an estimated five to seven million Americans over the past decade. CDC estimates that 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. Current tests often miss early or late-stage infection, which limits access to appropriate evaluation and care. For up to 20 percent of patients, symptoms persist and progress into Lyme infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses.

The updated LymeX effort will expand patient-centered innovation and next-generation diagnostics. AI-enabled methods and high-dimensional biological tools are improving understanding of persistent symptoms caused by Lyme bacteria. HHS will advance this work through a national strategy based on open data, transparent research practices, and direct engagement with patients.

"As Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, I am honored to join Secretary Kennedy and other distinguished stakeholders, such as my fellow members of Congress, experts, and patients, in discussing the present state and future possibilities of Lyme disease diagnostics, treatments, and therapies. This chronic, debilitating disease-which continues to rise throughout the United States, including and especially in my home state of New Jersey-deserves the federal government's undivided attention and assistance," said Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ). "I am very grateful for Secretary Kennedy's longstanding commitment to uncovering the origins, investigating the comorbidities, and developing new diagnostics and treatments for Lyme disease-significantly improving the qualities of life and care for patients. Lyme patients deserve answers, and under Secretary Kennedy's phenomenal leadership, the HHS is steadfastly working towards procuring them."

"Today's roundtable shows we have solid commitment from Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz and lawmakers to address Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses in the United States. As someone who has Alpha-Gal Syndrome, I have some understanding of the health challenges that result from tickborne illnesses," said Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA). "It is important to research potential treatments and to educate the public on these illnesses. As Health Subcommittee Chairman, I will continue pushing for policies that help us accomplish these goals."

LymeX also encompasses the LymeX Diagnostics Prize, with over $10 million in cash prizes underwritten by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, to advance diagnostic tools that support earlier and more accurate detection across stages of the infection. Currently, teams are in Phase 4 progressing innovative diagnostics through clinical validation and regulatory pathways.

HHS also announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided guidance to clarify they support beneficiaries with Lyme disease and related conditions through the Chronic Care Management program. This support expands access to coordinated care and reduces financial barriers for Medicare patients with complex, long-term conditions.

HHS is advancing a national effort that uses current science to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, and long-term care for people affected by Lyme disease and other infection-associated chronic conditions.