Lymphedema Treatment Act

Last week, President Biden signed the Omnibus bill for 2022. With the signing of this, the Lymphedema Treatment Act was approved. This is a huge victory and is another step towards making sure that everyone is treated fairly and has better access to healthcare.   This was no small victory, and so many of our EW members contributed to helping pass this bill. This has been a long road to success, but with teamwork and everyone coming together, messaging legislators, and resilience, we

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Lymphedema Treatment Act. This bill will improve coverage for medical compression supplies necessary for patients suffering from lymphedema. Currently, Medicare does not cover one of the most critical therapeutic treatments for lymphedema, an incurable disease affecting 3 million Americans. Lymphedema produces an accumulation of fluid and swelling in the extremities of the body caused by damage to the lymphatic system, most commonly caused

On December 12, the Lymphedema Treatment Act was passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 230 to 192. The LTA bill was recently rolled into H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. H.R. 3 provides the authority, mandate and tools for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate to lower the price of drugs and caps annual out-of-pocket costs in Medicare Part D. The language for the Lymphedema Treatment Act is included by expanding

The Lymphedema Treatment Act will be included in H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The vote is expected to be the week of Dec. 9—next  week! To help pass this through, contact your House representatives and let them know how important this bill is to you! Click here to find your representative and ask them for their support for H.R. 3! The full House announcement about H.R. 3 can be read here and a press release from Congresswoman Schakowsky’s office about

Kim Neel of Alala When a woman hears she has beaten breast cancer, her life should improve. The fight is over, she’s in the clear, it’s time for things to go back to normal. But, as everyone in the industry knows, that is simply not the case. Side effects of the treatment that saved her life can lead to conditions like lymphedema – a condition that can cause fibrosis, infection, pain, and impaired functioning of the affected body part. Kim Neel, cofounder of Alala, has made it

A new study shows that there is a way to detect lymphedema early. Typically, a patient with potential lymphedema is screened through a tape measure evaluation. A new technology, bioimpedance spectroscopy, or BIS, sends an electrical signal into the extremity that can detect lymphedema before a tape evaluation. The new study found that BIS helped discover symptoms better than just a traditional tape measure, but it allowed patients to receive treatment that could potentially reverse the progression.

Recently, an Op-Ed about the benefits of the Lymphedema Treatment Act was featured in The Hill, a news source widely regarded and circulated with federal legislators. Former Reps. Dave Reichert and Larry Kissell wrote about how the Lymphedema Treatment Act is good policy and good politics. With 451 co-sponsors, 385 in the House and 66 in the Senate, the Lymphedema Treatment Act was the most supported health care bill in the 115th Congress. Kissell first introduced the legislation after he met

Some research indicates that 40% of breast cancer survivors will develop lymphedema. Once you develop lymphedema, you live with it for the rest of your life.  Recently, an Omaha breast cancer survivor showed how she has been managing her lymphedema for the past 23 years. Even though many people experience lymphedema, the majority of people do not understand the diagnosis, maintenance required, products available, and cost to the patient.  Read the full story from KMTV. The

The Lymphedema Lobby Days to lobby for the Lymphedema Treatment Act will be held May 5th-7th. On Sunday, May 5th, the Lymphedema Advocacy Group will host a required orientation session where materials and name badges are picked up. Monday, May 6th and Tuesday, May 7th will be spent advocating for the Lymphedema Treatment Act on the Hill. An optional dinner will be hosted on Monday, May 6th. The Lymphedema Advocacy Group will schedule all meetings with representatives. Participants will be partnered

The Essentially Women membership has two pieces of federal legislation already moving in Congress, the Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act and the Lymphedema Treatment Act. The Lymphedema Treatment Act is being spearheaded by the Lymphedema Treatment Act Organization.  Medicare does not recognize and acknowledge the role compression plays in the treatment of lymphedema. If passed, this legislation will provide Medicare coverage for all forms of compression, including bandaging supplies,