From the category archives:

Newsletter Archives

We are Finalists for a RareVoice Award!

December 4, 2023

We are thrilled to announce that the Lymphedema Advocacy Group is a finalist for a RareVoice award!  This award celebrates and honors advocates and organizations who help amplify the voice of the rare disease community in state and federal policy on Capitol Hill. The EveryLife Foundation’s website lists all the finalists.  If you are in […]

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In Memoriam of our Board Member Bill McCann

December 1, 2023

We are deeply saddened to share the news of Bill McCann’s passing. Bill was a member of the Lymphedema Advocacy Group Board of Directors and Co-Chair of our Advocacy Training Committee. Those who had the privilege of working with Bill know he was a powerful advocate, eternal optimist, and all around great guy.  Although the […]

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Please Support Lymphedema Patients on Giving Tuesday

November 28, 2023

In 2006, my son Dylan was born with primary lymphedema. In 2010, I founded the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, with the mission of making sure that all lymphedema patients would someday have coverage for their compression supplies.  Today, thanks to passage of the Lymphedema Treatment Act, we are closer than ever to reaching that goal. But […]

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Why I’m Thankful

November 23, 2023

My name is Sarah Bramblette. I’m the Board Chair of the Lymphedema Advocacy Group. This year, I’m thankful that the Lymphedema Treatment Act was passed and that, starting January 1 of 2024, Medicare will cover lymphedema compression garments! I’ve been a Medicare beneficiary since 2013, and during that time my lymphedema has been more difficult […]

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Anniversary of the LTA House Passage

November 17, 2023

One year ago today, we made lymphedema history – the House of Representatives voted on the Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA) and it was passed with an astounding bipartisan vote of 402/13!  As members from both sides of the aisle passionately stated when they spoke in support of the bill, it was the patient advocates who […]

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North America Lymphedema Summit

November 13, 2023

Last month, I had the privilege of representing the Lymphedema Advocacy Group at Forward Momentum: Future Steps in Lymphedema Management, hosted by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) in collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS).  The summit brought together researchers, training program directors, representatives from lymphedema related non-profit organizations, surgeons and physicians to […]

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LTA Final Rule Summary

November 3, 2023

Below is a summary of the LTA final rule. You can read the full 65 pages here. We have also inserted notes into our group’s public comment document, which can be read here, to indicate which of our comments were incorporated into the final rule. The final rule is a huge victory for patients, but […]

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(Clarification) LTA Final Rule has been Released!

November 2, 2023

We  wanted to send this clarification to assure you that the frequency limitations are based on sets of garments, not individual garments. We apologize that the initial quoted section below did not make that explicitly clear, but elsewhere in the final rule it states the following: After consideration of the public comments received, we are […]

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LTA Final Rule has been Released!

November 2, 2023

The final rule for implementation of the Lymphedema Treatment Act was just released! The full rule contains a number of different provisions, but you can read the 65 pages related to compression coverage here.  We are still analyzing the final rule and will be back in touch again soon with a summary, but we didn’t […]

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Traditional Medicare versus Medicare Advantage & All Other Plans

November 1, 2023

This is just a reminder that the Lymphedema Treatment Act requires traditional Medicare to begin covering compression garments and supplies starting January 1, 2024. While most other plans follow the lead of traditional Medicare, they are not required to do so, and it could take some time for them to align. If you have a […]

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LTA Implementation Update

October 23, 2023

In the coming weeks, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) will release the final rule for implementation of the Lymphedema Treatment Act. We will alert you as soon as that occurs. To recap where things stand, the proposed rule was released on June 30th and a 60-day public comment period followed. If you […]

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Your Voice is Still Needed!

October 18, 2023

It’s not too late to complete the action below if you haven’t yet done so!  There are over 900 private insurance companies in the United States, and thousands of individual plans. If you have any insurance plan other than traditional Medicare, it’s imperative that they hear from you.  Follow the instructions below to alert your […]

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Current Action Items

October 6, 2023

If you have already completed the applicable action items below, thank you! If you haven’t, please read on. Action item #1 is for those who have traditional Medicare plans. Action item #2 is for everyone who has any other type of health insurance, including if you are a Medicare beneficiary and have a secondary or […]

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Advocacy Action Alert – Next Steps in Implementing the LTA!

September 29, 2023

Your voice got the Lymphedema Treatment Act passed and now we need you to speak up again! Action item #1 is for Medicare beneficiaries and action item #2 is for everyone who has any other type of health insurance. Action item #1: If you are a Medicare beneficiary and need custom-fit compression garments, please share […]

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Public Comments on the LTA Rules – Easy to Read Version

September 21, 2023

We have compiled all 750 of the Public Comment Period submissions and they can now be read in one easy location. CLICK HERE to read the comments, and note that the document contains links to any comments that were submitted via attachment. As a reminder, the LTA-related rules were part of a larger rule related […]

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New Educational Materials

September 15, 2023

We are in the process of updating our educational materials. All items currently available can be viewed on our Tools for Increasing Awareness page. The files can be downloaded for free and printed at home or at your local printer. Below you can see images of our very popular information cards. We are working on […]

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Read Our Comments on the Proposed Coverage Rules for Compression

August 30, 2023

A huge thank you to every advocate and organization who submitted feedback on the proposed coverage rules for lymphedema compression supplies!  The official Public Comment Period concluded yesterday. Medicare received a total of 752 comments on the entire proposed rule, which also contained other provisions, but a large majority of the comments were specific to […]

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TOMORROW is the DEADLINE to Submit Feedback on the Coverage Rules

August 28, 2023

Tomorrow – Tuesday, August 29th by 5:00PM – is the deadline for submitting feedback on the proposed coverage rules for lymphedema compression supplies!  CLICK HERE to submit your comments if you have not yet done so. These slides from the webinar below serve as an excellent checklist  for the topics you may wish to comment […]

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5 Days Left to Submit Your Feedback on the Proposed Coverage Rules for Compression Supplies

August 25, 2023

Next Tuesday, August 29th, is the final day to submit feedback on the proposed coverage rules for lymphedema compression supplies!  CLICK HERE to submit your comments if you have not yet done so. These slides from the webinar below serve as an excellent checklist for the topics you may wish to comment on. This is the […]

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10 Days Left to Submit Your Feedback on the Proposed Coverage Rules for Compression Supplies

August 19, 2023

Only 10 days remain to submit your feedback on the proposed coverage rules for lymphedema compression supplies. This is the only public comment period, so it is your one opportunity to have a voice in this rulemaking process and shape the outcome!  CLICK HERE to submit your comments, and note that the lymphedema rules are […]

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