Next Steps for the LTA

With the holidays comes reflection, and the LTA has so much to celebrate! As reported in last week’s newsletter, the LTA is now the most supported healthcare bill in Congress. So you may be wondering what comes next, and specifically, why does the number of cosponsors matter.

A small bill like ours is never passed as a stand-alone measure, regardless of the number of cosponsors. It’s not that it can’t be, it’s just that Congress has decided to not operate that way. Therefore, we are dependent upon a “legislative vehicle” – meaning, being included in a package of bills or attached to a larger bill. And, the greater our number of cosponsors, the greater our chances of being chosen when a suitable vehicle comes along.

Congress will soon have to address a number of expiring Medicare provisions, and are planning to do so through something referred to as a Medicare Extenders Package. This would be an ideal legislative vehicle for our bill. That is why, in addition to continuing to gather cosponsors, we are urging everyone to contact leadership offices asking that the LTA be included.

If we don’t make it in to the Medicare Extenders Package, we will, of course, continue to look for another legislative vehicle. But, we are hopeful that this is our opportunity to pass the LTA! So, keep contacting your own members of Congress who haven’t cosponsored yet, and keep reaching out to leadership, because the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

 

From everyone here at the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, we are so grateful for your advocacy. None of us could do this alone, but together, we will pass the Lymphedema Treatment Act!

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season,

Heather Ferguson
Founder & Executive Director
Lymphedema Advocacy Group
LymphedemaTreatmentAct.org