Lymphedema Treatment Act

littlesista30

Lymphedema Treatment Act

littlesista30

Lymphedema Treatment Act Update and Other Exciting Lymphedema-Realted News: 

* Reintroduction of the Lymphedema Treatment Act is near!

In the final days before Congress broke for recess, our bill sponsor, Rep Reichert (WA), approached three other members of the House, Rep Braley (IA), Rep Blumenauer (OR), and Rep Lance (NJ), to ask them to introduce the LTA bill with him as original "co-leads." These three members were carefully selected based on their committee assignment, party affiliation and support for the issue. Our goal is to have bipartisan support in both "committees of jurisdiction" (through which the bill must first pass). 

Thanks to our State Team members in Iowa and Oregon, Reps Braley and Blumenauer have already said "yes"!  Our NJ Team is still working to secure a "yes" from Rep Lance soon after Congress returns to work on Jan 6th. Once our final co-lead is secured we will be ready to introduce the bill.

* NJ has introduced a state lymphedema treatment mandate!

Our NJ Team has been busy, indeed, because, in addition to their work building support for the Lymphedema Treatment Act, they also succeeded in getting a NJ state lymphedema treatment mandate introduced in 2013. A copy of this bill can be read at ftp://www.njleg.state.nj.us/20122013/A4500/4161_I1.PDF. If you live in NJ, please consider joining your State Team  because they could really use your help - http://lymphedematreatmentact.org/join-an-advocacy-team-in-your-state/.  

* CA insurance "Marketplace" plans begin covering compression supplies January 1st!

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act stipulates that all new insurance policies offered in the “Marketplace” must cover certain “essential benefits.” In anticipation of the need to provide further guidelines to California insurers who would be selling plans through the exchange, the CA Department of Managed Health Care added a new section to Title 28 of the California Code of Regulations.

In this new section it lists devices required to be covered, including "lymphedema wraps and garments"! You can read more detailed information about this new law, and how lymphedema supplies came to be included, here - http://www.lymphactivist.org/ca_garment_coverage.php. We would like to extend our thanks and congratulations to Bob Weiss, a long-time patient advocate in CA, whose efforts have made such a difference in CA and the nation.  

* Join your state's advocacy team!

This marks the first anniversary of our State Teams. We've reached 279 team members in 41 states, representing approximately 70 Congressional districts in the nation.  It's a great start, but we need at least one team member in each of the 435 Congressional districts. We still need to grow our teams to represent 365 more Congressional districts. Will you join and help us get there?  If you are not already a member of your state's team please consider joining this grassroots effort to give a voice in Congress to lymphedema patients and all who care about them. To join or learn more visit http://lymphedematreatmentact.org/join-an-advocacy-team-in-your-state/.  

* Come to DC to take part in our 2014 advocacy days!

We are just beginning to plan for this year's trip, which will be held September 7th-9th. We will announce additional information as it becomes available. To read what participants had to say about our last trip visit http://lymphedematreatmentact.org/join-us-in-dc-2011-lymphedema-lobby-days/. 

Thank you in advance for helping us to accomplish more great things in 2014!  

The Lymphedema Advocacy Group

www.LymphedemaTreatmentAct.org

info@LymphedemaTreatmentAct.org

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Per e-mail yesterday, from which I have liberally borrowed to share here, the Lymphedema Treatment Act was just introduced into the 113th Congress (bill number HR 3877) by lead sponsor, Rep. Reichert (R-WA), and co-leads Rep. Lance (R-NJ), Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR), and Rep. Braley (D-IA).

You can read a very moving press release http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-introduces-critical-legislation-improve-healthcare-lymphedema-patients that includes quotes from each of these members of Congress. This introduction brings us to a new starting line.

Now we need your help asking all members of Congress to support this bill!

Please take 5 minutes to send a letter to your Representative, asking him/her to cosponsor this bill, by using the submission form http://www.capwiz.com/lymphedematreatmentact/home/ on our website. A brief template letter is provided, but please make your letter even more effective by adding one personalized paragraph reflecting your own perspective and experiences.

Now it’s your turn to make a difference! Even if your Representative cosponsored the LTA in the 112th Congress, he or she must do so again because bills and cosponsors do not carry over from one Congress to the next.

I contacted my fed rep last year, it was easy and I did receive a reply.  Going to do it again this year.  Hope you will too.  Thanks in advance!  ♥

dreidteacher

I sent my letter! 

This is what I added, so I hope it helps.

I have Stage III breast cancer, and the result of treatment (node removal and radiation) has left me with lymphedema in my left arm and hand. This is my dominant arm/hand so treatment is necessary every day. Lymphedema does not go away and there is no cure. I never knew about this horrible complication until it was confirmed by my oncologist. Please help as many suffer with lymphedema.

I hope the Lymphedema Treatment Act passes.

Cathy

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bump!

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bump!