Schakowsky Applauds the Advancement of the Lymphedema Treatment Act

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Energy and Commerce Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, cheered the passage of her Lymphedema Treatment Act (H.R. 3630) out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation was reintroduced alongside Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Mike Kelly (R-PA) in June 2021 with 147 original cosponsors. Today, H.R. 3630 has 356 cosponsors, making it one of the most widely supported health care bills in the 117th Congress. The Lymphedema Treatment Act would ensure Medicare Part B coverage of doctor-prescribed compression garments, the clinically recognized treatment for lymphedema.

"I have seen Lymphedema in constituents and friends, so I know that it can be painful and costly to treat," said Congresswoman Schakowsky. "Two-thirds of all Lymphedema cases start from cancer and cancer treatments. There is also no cure for Lymphedema. People living with the disease need medical compression garments to treat the painful swelling. My bill, The Lymphedema Treatment Act, will finally close the gap in Medicare coverage for people living with Lymphedema to cover these essential compression garments. I want to thank Chairman Frank Pallone, Ranking Member Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, the tireless advocates, the stakeholders, and all of the Members on both sides of the aisle for their support! I look forward to seeing the bill come to the Floor and passed out of the House."

"Lymphedema patients have been denied this coverage for far too long. After battling cancer, survivors can be met with this equally debilitating diagnosis, but with far fewer resources in place to assist them," said Congressman Carter. "As a pharmacist and a child of a cancer survivor, I've seen the pain that Lymphedema can cause. To those patients -- help is on the way."

Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive group of conditions characterized by swelling and discomfort in various parts of the body due to malfunctions in the lymphatic system. Between 1.5 and 3 million Medicare beneficiaries currently suffer from lymphedema. Patients undergoing treatment for cancer are particularly susceptible to lymphedema. When left untreated or undertreated, lymphedema can lead to complications, infections, comorbidities, loss of function, and disability--often necessitating costly emergency department or hospital visits. Commercial insurance and state Medicaid programs currently cover compression therapy.

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