Contact each of your Senators

PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR LETTER:

• Be sure to use proper capitalization when entering your name and address – it will appear exactly as you type it.
• Please personalize the letter – simply click on the body of the letter to add or delete text.
• For suggestions on what personal content to include please review the Contacting Congress section on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
• You will be sent a copy of your letter and the Lymphedema Advocacy Group will be blind copied on each letter in order to monitor which Congressional offices have been contacted.

After sending to your Senators below don’t forget to do the same at the Contact Your Representative page.

Recipients - Senators Required Fields Title: Mr. Ms. Mrs. Miss Dr. First Name: Last Name: Your Email: Address 1: Address 2: City: State / Province: Choose a state AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPurerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirgin IslandsVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming ZIP / Postal Code: Phone Number: Enter Code:	Message Subject: Dear Senator, I am writing to bring to your attention The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2011, HR 2499, sponsored by Larry Kissell. This bill has great personal significance to me, and as your constituent I am respectfully asking that your office consider sponsoring a companion bill in the Senate for this life-saving and cost-saving legislation. Lymphedema, formerly referred to as elephantiasis, is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. Approximately five to six million Americans suffer from lymphedema, with most of them acquiring it from cancer treatment (especially breast cancer) that damages and/or removes lymph nodes. In addition to this secondary form, there is also a primary form of the disease which is the result of a congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. Additional information about lymphedema is available at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/lymphedema/Patient/page1. 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. States have already recognized that coverage for successful early treatment is essential and cost saving, and are beginning to require that private and state plans provide this coverage. A lymphedema treatment mandate went into effect in North Carolina on January 1, 2010, one has been in effect in Virginia since 2004, and several other states have similar legislation pending. This bill has bi-partisan support and is endorsed by the American Cancer Society, Oncology Nursing Society, Komen Advocacy Alliance, LiveSTRONG, APTA, AOTA, the National Lymphedema Network and many other organizations. For additional information you can contact Sean Dugan in Congressman Kissell's office at sean.dugan@mail.house.gov. Please let me know if your office will become the Senate sponsor for this commonsense legislation that will improve patient care while reducing Medicare costs. I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your City, State, Zip] [Your Email] [Your Phone]