The Lymphedema Treatment Act

Welcome to the Lymphedema Treatment Act website!

This bill, sponsored by Congressman Larry Kissell of North Carolina, would offer coverage for Medicare beneficiaries with lymphedema from any cause.  Although this legislation relates specifically to a change in Medicare law, it would almost certainly result in all private insurance policies following suit.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  We have no paid lobbyists; our cause is entirely grassroots and patient driven.  Please explore the site to learn more, then complete as many of the simple steps under the “How You Can Help” menu as you can.  The single most important thing you can do is take just a couple of minutes to 
Contact your members of Congress using our simple submission form.

Untreated lymphedema is progressive and leads to infection, disfigurement, disability and in some cases even death.  Thus, prognosis for the patient is far worse and treatment more costly when the disease is not identified and treated in the earlier stages.

The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2011, HR 2499,
will improve coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema.

Specific goals of the bill are:

Comprehensive treatment coverage, according to current medical treatment standards, for individuals with and at risk for lymphedema;

The ability to add new treatment modalities to coverage as they become available and are approved;

Preoperative measurements for cancer patients to aid in early detection and diagnosis;

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 enable patient self-treatment plan adherence by providing necessary medical supplies for use at home, as prescribed for each patient (compression garments, compression bandages, other compression devices, pneumatic compression pumps, etc);

Reduction in total healthcare costs through avoidance of periodic infections, pain and disabilities resulting from this medical condition.

Lymphedema Treatment Act website