In a 402-13 bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives passed the Lymphedema Treatment Act, which would require Medicare to fund compression garments for the treatment of beneficiaries’ lymphedema.
Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-Ga.) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) introduced the Act, H.R. 3630, into the House to ensure Medicare Part B coverage of doctor-prescribed compression garments. The bill was also co-led by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Mike Kelly (R-Penn.).
"We are one step closer to providing relief for lymphedema patients, some of whom live through one of the worst diagnoses imaginable – cancer – only to come out the other side with an equally debilitating condition and a fraction of the resources and support," Rep. Carter said. "As co-chair of the Cancer Survivors Caucus and a pharmacist, I am excited to see Congress provide relief to patients who have been denied Medicare coverage for far too long."
"Today, the House of Representatives took one giant step closer to finally providing needed relief to over three million Lymphedema patients on Medicare," Rep. Schakowsky added. "The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support thanks to the tireless work of advocates like Heather Ferguson, Founder and Executive Director of the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, and her teenage sons."
Schakowsky says the legislation has "tremendous bipartisan support" in the Senate.
"We can get this bill to President Biden’s desk before the end of the year," she said. "Millions of Lymphedema patients are counting on us."
