OVERVIEW:

H.R. 4662 wolud offer coverage for Medicare veneficiaries with lymphedema from any cause. It would provide the medically recommended protocols (compression bandages, garments and supplies used daily in the treatment and management of lymphedema) and reduce the incidence of lymphedema-relaged infection. Although this legislation relates specifically to a change in Medicare law, it would also have the almost ceratin effect of ensuring all private insurance policies follow suit.

LYMPHEDEMA  is a medical condition which results in a swelling of any part of the body when the lyphatic vessels and/or lymph nodes are damaged or are inadequate. Lymphedema affects an estimated 1.5 to 3 milllion Medicare beneficiaries who currently receive sub-standard treatment from Medicare according to the current medicare standard of care. Medicare is spending hundreds of millions of dollars every year in hospitalizations for largely preventable lymphedema-related CELLULITIS.

BILL GOALS

• to provide diagnosis and treatment of individuals with and at risk for lymphedema according to current medical treatment standards, including manual lymph drainage, compression bandages, garments, devices, and excercise;
• to provide for lymphedema patient education in the procedures for self-treatment so as to transfer the treatment from the clinical to the home setting;
• to encourage patient self-teratment plan adherence by providing necessary medical supplies for use at home;
• to reduce total healthcare costs through avoidance of periodic infections, pain and disabilities resulting from this medicare condition

This bill is projected to save hundreds of millions of dollars every year in avoidance of costs of treating preventable lyphedema-related cellulitis. This is a quality of care issue affecting insured patients and is complementary to healthcare access issues.

WHAT CAN YOU DO:

We encourage you to contact your US Representatives and Senators. Please urge your Representative to co-sponser HR 4662 and ask your Senator to introduce similar legislation in the Senate. For more information about the bill and to obtain contact information for your Congressional Representative and Senators logon to: www.lymphedematreatmentact.org.