I
111TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION H. R. 4662
To amend title XVIII of the
Social Security Act to improve the diagnosis
and treatment of lymphedema
under the Medicare Program and to reduce
costs under such program related to
the treatment of complications
of lymphedema, and for other purposes.
IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
Mr. KISSELL introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce,
and in addition to the Committee on
Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of
such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to
improve
the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema under the
Medicare
Program and to reduce costs under such program
related to the treatment of
complications of
lymphedema, and for other purposes.
1 Be it enacted by
the Senate and House of Representa2
tives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as
the ‘‘Lymphedema Diag5
nosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010’’.
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1 SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND
2
TREATMENT SERVICES UNDER MEDICARE.
3 (a) COVERAGE OF SERVICES.—Section 1861
of the
4 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended--
5 (1) in
subsection (s)(2)--
6 (A) in subparagraph (DD), by striking
7 ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
8 (B) in subparagraph (EE), by adding
9 ‘‘and’’ at the end;
and
10 (C) by adding at the end the following new
11 subparagraph:
12
‘‘(FF) lymphedema compression treatment
13 items (as described in subsection
(iii)) and
14 lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services
15 (as described
in subsection (hhh)) if such serv16
ices are prescribed by and reviewed by a
treat17
ing physician and performed by such physician
18 or--
19 ‘‘(i) a
physical therapist or an occupa20
tional therapist who meets the quality
re21
quirements of subsection (hhh)(2)(C);
22 ‘‘(ii) a qualified
professional, such as
23 a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical
24
nurse specialist, chiropractor, or physi25
cian’s assistant who is licensed
or certified
26 by the State in which the services are per-
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1 formed to perform therapy services and
2 who meets the quality
requirements of
3 (hhh)(2)(C); or
4 ‘‘(iii) a qualified person, such as
a
5 physical therapist assistant, occupational
6 therapy assistant,
licensed massage thera7
pist, licensed practical nurse, or licensed
8 home
health practitioner who meets the
9 quality requirements of (hhh)(2)(C)
pro10
viding such services are rendered under the
11 direct supervision of
a physical therapist or
12 occupational therapist qualified in
13
lymphedema treatment and management
14 who meets the quality requirements
of
15 (hhh)(2)(C).’’; and
16 (2) by adding at the end the following new
sub17
sections:
18 ‘‘(hhh) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
19
SERVICES.—(1) The term ‘lymphedema diagnosis and
20 treatment services’
means, with respect to an individual
21 and consistent with paragraph (3),
differential diagnosis
22 and treatment of lymphedema (regardless of cause)
ac23
cording to the current standard of lymphedema diagnosis
24 and
treatment described in paragraph (2)(A) by, or under
25 the direction of, a
health care professional that is a cer-
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1 tified
provider as described in paragraph (2)(B) in an out2
patient setting and that
meets the quality standards de3
scribed in paragraph (2)(C), but only if the
physician who
4 is managing the individual’s lymphedema certifies that
5
such services are needed under a comprehensive plan of
6 care related to the
individual’s diagnosed lymphedema.
7 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph
(1):
8 ‘‘(A) The current standard of lymphedema di9
agnosis and treatment
described in this subpara10
graph is such standard as defined by the
American
11 Cancer Society and the International Society of
12 Lymphology
and called ‘complex decongestive ther13
apy’, a multi-modal therapy
comprising manual
14 lymph drainage, compression therapy, exercise, and
15
skin care. Such standard consists of the initial phase
16 of treatment which
is performed by qualified health
17 care professionals on an outpatient basis
(Phase 1
18 treatment) and the continuing maintenance phase
19 (Phase 2
treatment) which is performed in a home
20 setting by the patient, patient’s
family, or patient’s
21 aide after receiving instruction described in
para22
graph (5).
23 ‘‘(B) A qualified provider is a physician or
24
lymphedema therapist knowledgeable of the diag25
nosis and current medical
standard of treatment of
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1 lymphedema, or any other
individual or entity des2
ignated by the Secretary, that, in addition to
pro3
viding lymphedema outpatient self-management
4 training services (as
defined in paragraph
5 (3)(C)(iii)), provides other items or services
for
6 which payment may be made under this title.
7 ‘‘(C)(i) Subject to
clause (ii), the quality stand8
ards described in this subparagraph are
quality
9 standards established by the Secretary equivalent to
10 the
practice standards established by the
11 Lymphology Association of North
America.
12 ‘‘(ii) In applying this subsection during the 3-
13 year
period beginning on the date of the enactment
14 of this subsection, a
therapist who has completed at
15 least 135 hours of lymphedema treatment
training
16 and is certified by the training school is deemed to
17 have
met the requirement of clause (i), and may
18 practice under a certified
provider within a plan of
19 care developed by the certified provider;
regardless
20 of whether the therapist meets the experience stand21
ards
established by the Lymphology Association of
22 North America.
23 ‘‘(D)
The term ‘lymphedema diagnosis’ means
24 the differential diagnosis of the
source of the pa25
tient’s edema and the identification of the
specific
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1 etiology in order to develop the lymphedema
treat2
ment plan. Such term shall include diagnostic tools
3 such as the
lymphoscintigraphic functional test or
4 other test the Secretary determines
to be efficatious
5 to directly observe lymphatic system function may be
6
indicated if medical history or tests to rule out other
7 causes are not
adequate to provide a clear positive
8 diagnosis of lymphedema.
9 ‘‘(3)
COVERAGE.—With respect to lymphedema diag10
nosis and treatment services
coverage under this part, the
11 following shall apply:
12 ‘‘(A) MANUAL
LYMPH DRAINAGE.--
13 ‘‘(i) Lymphedema diagnosis and treatment
14 services
coverage under this part shall include
15 an initial course of manual lymph
drainage as
16 part of complete decongestive therapy (Phase 1)
17 when
medically required by the qualified pro18
vider described in paragraph
(2)(B).
19 ‘‘(ii) The schedule and number of manual
20 lymph drainage
treatment sessions shall be de21
termined by the treating physician or
22
lymphedema therapist as required by medical
23 necessity, and not the limits
governing rehabili24
tation therapy described in section 1833(g).
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1 ‘‘(B) COMPRESSION BINDING SYSTEMS, GAR2
MENTS AND DEVICES.--
3
‘‘(i) For purposes of this part, the mate4
rials and aids used in lymphedema
compression
5 therapy--
6 ‘‘(I) while physically resembling items
7 in
other benefit categories such as surgical
8 dressings, durable medical
equipment,
9 splints and braces, orthotics and pros10
thetics described in
subsections (s)(5),
11 (s)(6), and (s)(9), do not serve the same
12
medical function as such items in such
13 other categories and have
significantly dif14
ferent therapeutic characteristics and uses;
15
and
16 ‘‘(II) are specified in subsection (iii)
17 as a separate benefit
category.
18 ‘‘(ii) Such coverage shall include any com19
pression
garments, binding systems and devices
20 described in subsection (iii) deemed
by the pa21
tient’s qualified caregiver to be medically nec22
essary as
part of the treatment of lymphedema.
23 ‘‘(iii) Such coverage shall include
replace24
ments when required to maintain their medi25
cally required
compressive function or to accom-
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1 modate changes
in the patient’s dimensions or
2 medical condition.
3 ‘‘(C) LYMPHEDEMA
SELF-MANAGEMENT TRAIN4
ING.--
5 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.--
6 ‘‘(I) The initial
course of treatment
7 (phase 1) described in paragraph (2)(A),
8 with
respect to such services, shall include
9 training of the patient and an aide
or fam10
ily member as required to perform self11
treatment in a home
setting, including any
12 of the following home treatment modalities
13
which are determined by the qualified pro14
vider to be medically required
and are a
15 part of the continuing maintenance phase
16 (phase 2) home
treatment plan described
17 in paragraph (2)(A):
18 ‘‘(aa) Self-manual
lymph drain19
age (simple lymph drainage).
20 ‘‘(bb) Compression
bandaging.
21 ‘‘(cc) Donning and care of com22
pression garments.
23
‘‘(dd) Performance of an appro24
priate decongestive exercise
program.
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1 ‘‘(ee) Use of specialized manually
2
adjustable compression devices, don3
ning aids, and other required
ancillary
4 equipment; and if medically indicated.
5 ‘‘(ff) Use of
sequential gradient
6 compression pneumatic pump.
7 ‘‘(II) As part of such
treatment, pa8
tient training shall include instruction on
9 periodic
self-measurements, skin care, indi10
cations of infection, and the steps to
be
11 taken if infection occurs.
12 ‘‘(III) The term ‘lymphedema
out13
patient self-management training services’
14 means educational and
training services
15 furnished to an individual diagnosed with
16
lymphedema by a certified provider (as de17
scribed in paragraph (2)(B)) in
an out18
patient setting but only if the physician
19 who is managing the
individual’s
20 lymphedema condition certifies that such
21 services are
needed under a comprehensive
22 plan of care related to the
individual’s
23 lymphedema condition.
24 ‘‘(ii) CONSULTATION WITH
ORGANIZATIONS
25 IN ESTABLISHING PAYMENT AMOUNTS FOR
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1 SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS.—In es2
tablishing payment
amounts under section 1848
3 for physicians’ services consisting of
4
lymphedema outpatient self-management train5
ing services, the Secretary
shall consult with
6 appropriate organizations, including such
orga7
nizations representing individuals or Medicare
8 beneficiaries with
lymphedema, in determining
9 the relative value for such services under
sec10
tion 1848(c)(2).
11 ‘‘(D) MEASUREMENTS TO DEFINE TREATMENT
12
EFFICACY.—Periodic measurements shall be made to
13 enable evaluation of the
efficacy of the treatment
14 plan and patient adherence, to modify the
treatment
15 plan or to determine the need for follow-up courses
16 of
treatment.
17 ‘‘(E) FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT.—Such coverage
18 shall provide
for follow-up treatments whenever
19 medically required to periodically
validate home tech20
niques, to monitor progress against the written
21
treatment plan, and to modify the treatment plan as
22 required.
23 ‘‘(F)
DENIAL.—No individual other than a li24
censed physician or certified
lymphedema therapist
25 competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues
in-
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1 volved in the care requested, may deny or modify
re2
quests for authorization of health care services or
3 materials
described in subsection (iii) pursuant to
4 this subsection.
5 ‘‘(G)
PROHIBITION OF ADDITIONAL TREAT6
MENT FEES.—No additional fees or deductibles
may
7 be assessed, with respect to such treatment, for com8
pliance with
this title other than assessed for similar
9 medical services.
10 ‘‘(iii)
LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION TREATMENT
11 ITEMS.--
12 ‘‘(1) DEFINITION.—The term
‘lymphedema
13 compression treatment item’ means compression
14 therapy
materials and supplies used daily in the
15 medical treatment of lymphedema
upon prescription
16 of the treating physician or therapist, including--
17
‘‘(A) compression binding systems com18
prising, as medically required,
short-stretch and
19 medium-stretch compression bandages; cotton,
20
synthetic, or foam padding; gauze or elastic fin21
ger and toe bandages; foam
pads; and tubular
22 bandages;
23 ‘‘(B) compression garments and
compres24
sion pads for compression treatment of
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1 lymphedematous arms, legs, torso, face and
2 neck, breast and
chest, abdomen, and genitalia;
3 ‘‘(C) manually-adjustable compression
4
sleeves and padded directional flow sleeves for
5 use on upper and lower
limbs;
6 ‘‘(D) orthotic shoes; and
7 ‘‘(E) donning aids, bandage rollers,
and
8 other specialized items used with the items de9
scribed in
subparagraphs (A) through (D).
10 ‘‘(2) SPECIAL REQUIREMENT ON
LYMPHEDEMA
11 PUMPS.—Such term shall include a pneumatic pump
12 for the
treatment of lymphedema only if the treating
13 physician or therapist’s
prescription for such pump
14 is accompanied by a certificate of medical
necessity
15 which specifies as a minimum--
16 ‘‘(A) the differential
diagnosis of
17 lymphedema and any related co-conditions such
18 as venous
insufficiency, peripheral arterial dis19
ease, lipedema, morbid obesity,
myxedema, and
20 any other condition which may be significant in
21 the
selection of a type, specification, and usage
22 of the pump; and
23 ‘‘(B)
the physician’s or therapist’s judge24
ment of the type and specifications of
the pump
25 based on the patient’s medical necessity.’’.
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1 (b) PAYMENT.--
2 (1) LYMPHEDEMA OUTPATIENT SELF-MANAGE3
MENT
TRAINING SERVICES INCLUDED AS PHYSI4
CIANS’ SERVICES.—Section 1861(s)(2)(S)
of such
5 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(S)) is amended by in6
serting ‘‘and
lymphedema outpatient self-manage7
ment training services under
subsection
8 (hhh)(3)(C)’’ after ‘‘subsection (qq))’’.
9 (2) LYMPHEDEMA
COMPRESSION TREATMENT
10 ITEMS.--
11 (A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(a)
of
12 such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)) is amended--
13 (i) in paragraph (8),
by striking at
14 the end ‘‘and’’;
15 (ii) in paragraph (9), by striking
at
16 the end the period and inserting a semi17
colon; and
18 (iii) by
adding at the end the fol19
lowing new paragraph:
20 ‘‘(10) in the case of
lymphedema compression
21 treatment items described in section 1861(iii),
the
22 amount determined under section 1834(n); and’’.
23 (B) PAYMENT
DETERMINED.—Section
24 1834 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is
amend-
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1 ed by adding at the end the following new
sub2
section:
3 ‘‘(n) PAYMENT FOR LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION
4 TREATMENT
ITEMS.--
5 ‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE FOR PAYMENT.--
6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—With
respect to a
7 lymphedema compression treatment item de8
scribed in
section 1861(iii) for which payment
9 is determined under this subsection,
subject to
10 subparagraph (D), payment shall be made in an
11 amount
equal to 80 percent of the payment
12 basis described in subparagraph
(B).
13 ‘‘(B) PAYMENT BASIS.—The payment
14 basis described in this
subparagraph, with re15
spect to a lymphedema compression treatment
16
item described in section 1861(iii), is the actual
17 charge for the
item.
18 ‘‘(C) EXCLUSIVE PAYMENT RULE FOR
19 HOME HEALTH AGENCIES.—This
subsection
20 shall constitute the exclusive provision of this
21 title
for payment for lymphedema compression
22 treatment items described in
section 1861(iii)
23 under this part or under part A to a home
24 health
agency.
25 ‘‘(D) EXCEPTIONS.--
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1 ‘‘(i)
Subparagraph (B) shall not apply
2 to an item furnished by a public home
3
health agency (or by another home health
4 agency which demonstrates to the
satisfac5
tion of the Secretary that a significant por6
tion of its
patients are low income) free of
7 charge or at nominal charges to the
public.
8 ‘‘(ii) Subparagraph (B) shall not
9 apply to items that are
furnished as an in10
cident to a physician’s professional service.
11
‘‘(2) SPECIAL PAYMENT RULES.--
12 ‘‘(A) ALLOWABLE ITEMS.—To be eligible
13
for payment under this subsection, an item de14
scribed in section 1861(iii)
must--
15 ‘‘(i) be ordered by a qualified physi16
cian or lymphedema
therapist for treat17
ment of diagnosed lymphedema;
18 ‘‘(ii) primarily
and customarily be
19 used to serve a medical purpose;
20 ‘‘(iii)
generally not be useful to a per21
son in the absence of an illness or
injury;
22 and
23 ‘‘(iv) be appropriate for use in the
24
home.
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1 ‘‘(B) ALLOWABLE QUANTITIES.—In the
2 case it
is determined by the qualified physician
3 or qualified lymphedema therapist
involved that
4 compression therapy demands daily compression
5 as part of
lymphedema treatment according to
6 section 1861(hhh)(1), then payment may
be
7 made in accordance with this subsection for the
8 following
quantities--
9 ‘‘(i) in the case of compression bind10
ing systems
described in section
11 1861(iii)(1)(A), 2 sets for each affected
12 body
part;
13 ‘‘(ii) in the case of compression gar14
ments described in
section 1861(iii)(1)(B),
15 2 garments for each affected body part;
16
‘‘(iii) in the case of compression de17
vices described in section
1861(iii)(1)(C), 1
18 each for each affected body part; and
19 ‘‘(iv) in
the case of compression ther20
apy aids described in section
21
1861(iii)(1)(D), as determined by the
22 qualified physician or
qualified
23 lymphedema therapist.
24 ‘‘(C) ALLOWABLE USE.—Payment may
be
25 made under this subsection for a lymphedema
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1 compression treatment item described in section
2 1861(iii) only
if such item--
3 ‘‘(i) is prescribed by a certified pro4
vider as defined
in section
5 1861(hhh)(2)(B);
6 ‘‘(ii) is used as part of a
lymphedema
7 treatment plan described in section
8 1861(hhh)(1);
9
‘‘(iii) is used by a patient who has
10 been instructed in lymphedema
self-man11
agement described in section
12 1861(hhh)(5); and
13 ‘‘(iv)
is used to treat a diagnosed con14
dition of chronic lymphedema.
15 ‘‘(D)
COMPRESSION RANGE.—The
16 lymphedema compression treatment items for
17
which payment may be made under this section
18 must provide a compression no
less than
19 30mmHg and no greater than 60mmHg.
20 ‘‘(E) QUALIFIED
FITTERS.—The
21 lymphedema compression treatment items for
22 which
payment may be made under this section
23 must be measured and fitted by a
qualified fit24
ter who is an individual who--
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1 ‘‘(i) is a qualified lymphedema thera2
pist, as defined in
section 1834(o)(2), who
3 meets the quality standards of section
4
1861(hhh)(2)(C);
5 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a State that pro6
vides for the
licensing of orthotists and
7 prosthetists, is licensed in orthotics or
8
prosthetics by the State in which the item
9 is supplied;
10 ‘‘(iii) in
the case of a State that does
11 not provide for the licensing of
orthotists
12 and prosthetists, is specifically trained and
13 educated to
provide or manage the provi14
sion of prosthetics and custom-designed
or
15 -fabricated orthotics, and is certified by the
16 American Board for
Certification in
17 Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. or by the
18 Board for
Orthotist/Prosthetist Certifi19
cation, or is credentialed and approved
by
20 a program that the Secretary determines,
21 in consultation with
appropriate experts in
22 orthotics and prosthetics, has training and
23
education standards that are necessary to
24 provide such prosthetics and
orthotics; or
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1 ‘‘(iv) is certified by the qualified
man2
ufacturer of the item to be qualified to fit
3 the particular garment
or device.
4 ‘‘(F) REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLIERS OF
5 COMPRESSION THERAPY
ITEMS.—A supplier of
6 the lymphedema compression treatment items
7
described in this subsection must meet the re8
quirements of section 1834(j)
in order to re9
ceive payment under this subsection.
10 ‘‘(3) REPLACEMENT
OF COMPRESSION THERAPY
11 ITEMS.--
12 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Payment shall
be
13 made under this subsection, with respect to an
14 individual, for
the replacement of compression
15 bindings, compression garments, or
compression
16 devices if an ordering physician determines that
17 the
provision of a replacement item, or repair of
18 such an item, is necessary
because of any of the
19 following:
20 ‘‘(i) A change in the physiological
or
21 medical condition of the individual.
22 ‘‘(ii) A loss of required
compression of
23 the item that is not restorable by washing
24 and
drying.
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1 ‘‘(iii) An irreparable change in the
2
condition of the device, or in a part of the
3 device.
4 ‘‘(B) LENGTH OF
REASONABLE USEFUL
5 LIFETIME.—The reasonable useful lifetime of a
6
lymphedema compression treatment item de7
scribed in section 1861(iii) shall
be as follows,
8 except that, if the Secretary determines that, on
9 the
basis of prior experience in making pay10
ments for such an item under this
title, such
11 lifetimes are no longer appropriate with respect
12 to a
particular item, the Secretary shall estab13
lish an alternative reasonable
lifetime for such
14 item:
15 ‘‘(i) COMPRESSION BINDING KIT.—In
16 the
case of compression binding systems
17 described in section 1861(iii)(1)(A),
the
18 greater of 6 months or per manufacturer’s
19 warrantee.
20
‘‘(ii) COMPRESSION GARMENTS.—In
21 the case of compression garments
de22
scribed in section 1861(iii)(1)(B), the
23 greater of 4 months or per
manufacturer’s
24 warrantee.
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21
•HR 4662 IH
1 ‘‘(iii)
COMPRESSION DEVICES.—In the
2 case of compression devices described in
3
section 1861(iii)(1)(C), the greater of 3
4 years or per manufacturer’s
warrantee.
5 ‘‘(iv) AIDS.—In the case of compres6
sion therapy aids
described in section
7 1861(iii)(1)(D), as required to maintain
8
functional usefulness.’’.
9 (C) SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS.—Section
10
1834(j)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(j)(5))
11 is amended--
12 (i) in
subparagraph (E), by striking
13 at the end ‘‘and’’;
14 (ii) in
subparagraph (F), by striking
15 at the end the period an inserting ‘‘;
and’’;
16 and
17 (iii) by adding at the end the fol18
lowing new
subparagraph:
19 ‘‘(G) lymphedema compression treatment
20 items (as
described in section 1861(iii)).’’.
21 (3) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT
22 SERVICES.--
23 (A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(a) of
24 such
Act, as amended by paragraph (2)(A), is
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22
•HR 4662 IH
1 further
amended by adding at the end the fol2
lowing new paragraph:
3 ‘‘(11) with
respect to lymphedema diagnosis
4 and treatment services (as defined in
subsection
5 (hhh)(1))--
6 ‘‘(A) furnished by a qualified physical
ther7
apist or qualified occupational therapist, as de8
fined in section
1834(o)(2)(A), the amounts de9
scribed in section 1834(k); or
10 ‘‘(B)
furnished by a lymphedema therapist,
11 as defined by 1834(o)(2)(B), under
direction of
12 a qualified physical therapist or qualified
occu13
pational therapist, the amounts described in
14 section
1834(o).’’.
15 (B) PAYMENT METHOD.—Section 1834 of
16 such Act, as amended
by paragraph (2)(B), is
17 further amended by adding at the end the
fol18
lowing new subsection:
19 ‘‘(o) PAYMENT FOR OUTPATIENT LYMPHEDEMA
DI20
AGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES.--
21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of
section
22 1833(a)(11)(B), in the case of lymphedema diag23
nosis and
treatment services described in section
24 1861(hhh) for which payment is
determined under
25 this subsection and that are performed by a
quali-
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23
•HR 4662 IH
1 fied lymphedema therapist (as defined in
paragraph
2 (2)) under the direction of a qualified physician
3 therapist
or qualified occupational therapist, the
4 payment basis shall be 80 percent
of the lesser of--
5 ‘‘(A) the actual charge for the service; or
6 ‘‘(B)
the applicable fee schedule amount
7 (as defined in paragraph (3)) for the
services.
8 ‘‘(2) QUALIFIED THERAPISTS.—For purposes of
9 this
subsection:
10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘qualified’,
11 with respect to
a physical therapist, occupa12
tional therapist, or lymphedema
therapist,
13 means that the physical therapist, occupational
14
therapist, or lymphedema therapist meets the
15 quality requirements
described in section
16 1861(hhh)(2)(C).
17 ‘‘(B) LYMPHEDEMA
THERAPIST.—The
18 term ‘lymphedema therapist’ means any of the
19
following individuals so long as such individual
20 is legally authorized to
practice by the State in
21 which the lymphedema diagnosis and
treatment
22 service involved is performed and meets the
23 quality
requirements described in subparagraph
24 (A):
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24
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4662 IH
1 ‘‘(i) A registered nurse, nurse practi2
tioner, family nurse
practitioner or clinical
3 nurse specialist (as described in section
4
1861(aa)(5)).
5 ‘‘(ii) A doctor of medicine or doctor of
6 osteopathy (as
described in section
7 1861(r)(1).
8 ‘‘(iii) A physician assistant (as
de9
scribed in section 1861(aa)(5)).
10 ‘‘(iv) A chiropractor.
11 ‘‘(v)
A licensed massage therapist.
12 ‘‘(vi) A licensed home health
practi13
tioner.
14 ‘‘(3) APPLICABLE FEE SCHEDULE AMOUNT.--
15 In this
subsection, the term ‘applicable fee schedule
16 amount’ means, with respect
to services furnished in
17 a year, the amount determined under the fee
sched18
ule established under section 1848 for such services
19 furnished
during the year or, if there is no such fee
20 schedule established for such
services, the amount
21 determined under the fee schedule established
for
22 such comparable services as the Secretary specifies.
23 ‘‘(4)
UNIFORM CODING.—For claims for serv24
ices for which the amount of payment is
determined
25 under this subsection, the claim shall include a
code
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25
•HR 4662 IH
1 (or codes) under a uniform coding system
specified
2 by the Secretary that identifies the services
fur3
nished.
4 ‘‘(5) RESTRAINT ON BILLING.—The provisions
5 of
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section
6 1842(b)(18) shall apply to lymphedema
diagnosis
7 and treatment services for which payment is made
8 under this
subsection in the same manner as they
9 apply to services provided by a
practitioner described
10 in section 1842(b)(18)(C), except that in
applying
11 such subparagraphs the practitioner described shall
12 be any
practitioner described in paragraph (2)(B).’’.
13 (C) EXCLUSION FROM CERTAIN
THERAPY
14 SERVICES.—Section 1833(g)(4) of such Act (42
15 U.S.C.
1395l(g)(4)) is amended by inserting
16 ‘‘or to expenses incurred with
respect to
17 lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services
18 (as defined
in subsection (hhh)(1))’’ before the
19 period at the end.
20 (c)
EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
21 this section shall apply to items
and services furnished on
22 or after the date that is 90 days from the date
of the
23 enactment of this Act.
Æ
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IN THE
SENATE/HOUSE
12/15/09
MR. KISSELL introduced the following bill:
A BILL:
to provide diagnosis and treatment
of individuals with and at
risk for lymphedema according to current medical
treatment standards with
the goal of reducing total healthcare costs through
avoidance of periodic
infections, pain and disabilities resulting from this
medical condition;
to enhance
quality of lymphedema patient care by providing
therapist qualification
requirements;
to provide for informed consent of
patients requiring surgery
and radiotherapy of the relative risks of
lymphedema for alternate
treatments considered;
to provide for lymphedema patient
education in the procedures
for self-treatment so as to transfer the
treatment from the clinical to
the
home setting;
to encourage patient
self-treatment plan compliance by
providing
necessary medical supplies for
use at home;
to expand patient access to qualified lymphedema therapy by
extending
coverage to qualified, trained lymphedema therapists who may
practice
under
a qualified physician, physical therapist or occupational
therapist.
*Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United
States of America in Congress assembled,*
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Lymphedema Diagnosis & Treatment Cost
Saving
Act of 2010"
SECTION 2. SUMMARY.
This Act amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, specifically to:
1. add lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services to the scope of Part
B
services in section 1832 [42 U.S.C. 1395k];
2. define the newly added services in section 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x];
3. add a new benefit category for compression therapy medical items
to
section 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x];
4. add lymphedema patient training to section 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x];
5. provide payment rules for compression therapy items to Section 1834
[42
U.S.C. 1395m] and for therapist services to Section 1833 [42
U.S.C.
1395l];
6 add a new health professional category of "certified
lymphedema
therapist"
to 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x] with definition of
qualification requirements.
SECTION 3. PROVISIONS.
TITLE XVIII--HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE AGED AND DISABLED of the
Social
Security Act is amended as follows:
(a). LYMPHEDEMA TREATMENT COVERAGE of costs of diagnosis and treatment
of
lymphedema from all sources.
(1*) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT SERVICES*--Section 1832
[42 U.S.C. 1395k] is amended in subsection
(a)(2) by adding lymphedema
diagnosis and treatment and compression
therapy as covered services:
* *
*"(K) lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services for treatment
of
lymphedema from all causes (as described in section 1861 (ccc)); and*
* *
*(L) coverage of medically-necessary lymphedema compression
treatment
items
(as described in section 1861 (s)(18))." *
(2) *DEFINITIONS*--Section 1861
[42 U.S.C. 1395x] is amended to
define patient education and training and
lymphedema diagnosis and
treatment
services:
(A) *PATIENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING*--in subsection
(s)(2)(S)--
(i) by adding "*and lymphedema*" after
"
*diabetes*"; and
(ii) by adding "*and subsection (ccc)*"
after *" subsection (qq)*"; and
(B) *LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
SERVICES*--by
adding at the end
the following new subsection:
*"Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Services*
* *
*"(ccc)(1) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES-- The
term
"lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services" means differential
diagnosis
and treatment of lymphedema according to current medical standards
of
lymphedema treatment (i.e. "complex decongestive therapy") described
in
paragraph (2)(A) by, or under the direction of, a certified provider
as
described in paragraph (2)(B) in an outpatient setting by an individual
or
entity who meets the quality standards described in paragraph (2)(C),
but
only if the physician who is managing the individual's
lymphedema
condition
certifies that such services are needed under a
comprehensive plan of care
related to the individual's diagnosed lymphedema
condition.*
* *
* (2)
DEFINITIONS-- In paragraph (1)--*
*
(A) The current standard of lymphedema diagnosis
and treatment as defined by
the American Cancer Society and the
International Society of Lymphoology.
----------------
A celebration of women in the 111th Congress
by Larry Kissell
In honor of all the women of the 8th Congressional district, and in
celebration of the Women’s History
Month, I want to tell you a little bit
about some of what I’ve done to address women’s issues in the 111th
Congress.
As your Congressman, I get the opportunity to meet remarkable people like
Heather Ferguson, a Charlotte
mom fighting to help her three-year-old son,
and others like him, to get critical treatment for lymphedema.
Heather
struggled to get her health insurance to pay for the relatively-inexpensive
treatment to help her son
live a normal life without the serious
complications of untreated lymphedema. She knew if she didn’t do
something,
she would be fighting with this issue her entire life. So she took the issue to
her state
representative, another great woman, Tricia Cotham, and then,
brought her issue to me. Together, we
introduced legislation to ensure
Medicare covers treatment for lymphedema sufferers.
One of the largest groups of lymphedema sufferers are cancer patients. The
condition can be caused by
cancer treatments that affect the lymphatic
system. Breast cancer patients are especially susceptible to
lymphedema.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54. As
we all know too well, one in
eight of all women will get breast cancer in
her lifetime. Yet, more than 60 percent of breast cancer
occurrences are
detected in early stages. If detected early, 96 percent of women are cancer-free
after five
years. Breast cancer can strike at any age.
As we know, educating our daughters about early detection is one of the most
critical things we can do. In
an effort to promote early detection, I have
joined my colleagues in sponsoring a bill to increase breast
cancer
awareness in young women and provide support for young women diagnosed with
breast cancer.
I am putting an emphasis on holding insurance companies more accountable for
minimum hospital stays for
breast cancer treatment. I have sponsored a bill
to require minimum stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies
and lymph node
dissections in the course of breast cancer treatment. It would also require
coverage for
secondary consultations. Unfortunately, many rural medical
facilities aren’t equipped with the necessary
mammogram systems. I have
supported a bill to help address this need by expanding mobile mammography
vehicle access, to help bring the necessary technologies and treatment to
those that need it.
This week, I proudly joined with my colleagues to support an appropriation
for the Department of Defense
Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program.
I also voted to expand and improve health care services
from the Department
of Veterans Affairs available to women veterans, especially those serving in
Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our brave female
service members deserve to have their
needs taken into consideration when
receiving medical treatment.
Back in January, I sponsored a resolution recognizing the importance of
cervical health and the early
detection of cervical cancer. It was a
resolution I was honored to sponsor. We are also working on diabetes
research, treatment and education as well as fighting Sickle Cell Disease. I
am a strong supporter and
sponsor of H.R. 1032 which improves prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, stroke and
other cardiovascular
diseases in women. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in our
country. It
is vital that we continue to educate on ways to prevent heart
disease in all of us.
Health issues are of course not the only issues important to women. One of the first bills I voted for was the
Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. I was so
proud to support this bill, which is designed to ensure equal pay for
equal
work. It overturned a 2007 Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult
for women and others
to pursue claims of pay discrimination. It is important
to close the pay gap for women who work just as hard
as their male
counterparts.
In November, I voted to modify the Small Business Act to improve women’s
business centers. We need to
continue encouraging female entrepreneurs, who
are helping to create the small businesses which are driving
our economic
recovery.
I have been blessed in many ways during my life. Not the least of which is
the four amazing women who help
shape my view of the world - my mother
Virene, my wonderful wife Tina and my amazing daughters Jenny
and Aspen.
My 94-year-old mother is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She is
a retired mathematics teacher
and instilled in me a deep sense of community.
She inspired me to pursue a career in teaching and helped
give me the
strength to run for Congress. My wife and daughters are my rock. These three
generations of
Kissell women amaze me every day.
I hope you will take a moment this month to thank the women in your life for
everything they do.
Congressman Larry Kissell (D-N.C. -8) offices include Rockingham: 230 East
Franklin St., Rockingham,
NC 28379, Phone: 997-2070; Concord number (704)
786-1612; Fayetteville number (910) 920-2070;
Washington office: 512 Cannon
House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; phone (202) 225-3715.
Web site,
kissell.house.gov.
http://www.yourdailyjournal.com/view/full_story_home/6700436/article-A-celebration-of-women-in-the-
111th-Congress?instance=homesecondary_opinion_left_column
--------
The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010 was introduced
in the US House of
Representatives by my Congressman, Larry Kissell, on
February 23rd and assigned the number HR 4662.
To read the bill and
related information you can visit the Library of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/;
select
search by bill number and enter HR 4662 in the
box.
Please help - It is time for you to do your
part to ensure this act is passed into law!
Contact your Representative and
Senators and urge them to sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
The greater the number of sponsors the greater our chances will be at
getting this bill passed. Elected
officials are only accountable to
their constituents, therefore only you have the power to persuade your
members of Congress to support this bill. If passed, this act will
ensure that we finally have nationwide,
comprehensive lymphedema treatment
coverage for all Americans who are insured – no matter what the
cause of
their lymphedema or whether they have Medicare or private insurance.
Below is a sample letter you can use as is, but I hope that you will
personalize yours, especially if you are a
cancer survivor, have lymphedema,
are a doctor or therapist. Please forward this information to others
willing to support this effort. Feel free to contact me with questions
– Heather Ferguson, hmff@earthlink.
net.
You may find
your Congressional representatives by going to http://www.contactingthecongress.org
and
entering your address. If you are able to forward the National
Lymphedema Network office (nln@lymphnet.
org) the name and contact
information of your representative they will also send a letter to
him/her.
If you are represented by Congressman Kissell - instead of sending
the letter below please write to thank
him for his sponsorship and reiterate
the importance of this bill being passed into law.
SEND EMAILS TO: Your
Representative and Senators
SUBJECT: Please (co)sponsor HR 4662, the
Lymphedema Diagnosis & Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010
EMAIL
BODY:
Dear (name of Representative/Senator you are sending to),
I am
writing to urge you to sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of the Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment
Cost Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662, introduced by
Congressman Larry Kissell on February 23, 2010.
This act will reduce
Medicare costs while improving patient care and quality of life. Currently
Medicare and
some private insurance companies do not offer complete coverage
for this disease, which afflicts millions of
Americans, and is most commonly
caused by treatment for cancer. These policies only cover the expensive,
difficult to treat and often chronic complications which are the inevitable
result of patients having not received
the proper medical care in the
earlier stages. Such policies are falling short of providing these
individuals
treatment in accordance with established standards of
care. And current policies lead to the expenditure of
immense amounts
of precious healthcare resources to treat preventable lymphedema-related
cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema is a medical necessity critical to the
health and well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The
clinically-proven treatment of lymphedema is called "complex decongestive
therapy".
It is used world-wide by the medical community, is not
experimental and has decades of proven success.
Unfortunately, not all
components of this treatment fall under categories for which Medicare or private
insurance companies typically provide coverage. With treatment, a
patient lives a long, healthy and virtually
normal life. But without
treatment, the disease can grow progressively worse, causing severe
disfigurement,
disability and pain, and in some cases even results in
death. A lymphedema treatment mandate went in to
effect in North
Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the National Lymphedema
Network and Susan G. Komen for the
Cure, and the endorsement of other
national groups is anticipated. For additional information or
to (co)
sponsor this bill, contact Zach Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s
office at [email protected] or
202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare
costs, by signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address (required)
-----
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Saskia R.J. Thiadens, RN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wade Farrow, MD, CWS, FCCWS
Dave W. Lob, MBA
Tess Karwoski, RN
Max
Salas, MBA
Saskia R.J. Thiadens, RN
MEDICAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Jane M. Armer, RN,
PhD
Marcia Beck, APRN, BC, CLT-LANA
Andrea L. Cheville, MD
Janice N.
Cormier, MD, MPH
Joseph L. Feldman, MD, CLT-LANA
Kathleen Francis,
MD
Mei R. Fu, PhD, MS, MA, RN, APRN-BC
Nancy Hutchison, MD
Bonnie B.
Lasinski, MA, PT, CLT-LANA
Ruth Moseley, MS, PT, CLT-LANA
Sheila H.
Ridner, MSN, PhD, RN
Paula J. Stewart, MD, CLT-LANA
Saskia R.J. Thiadens,
RN
Kathryn McKillip Thrift, BS, CLT-LANA
Catherine M. Tuppo, MS, PT,
CLT-LANA
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Judith Casley-Smith, PhD
Lymphoëdema Association of Australia
Dr. med Ételka Földi
Földi-Klinik, Germany
Prof. Dr. med Michael Földi
Földi-Klinik, Germany
Waldermar L. Olszewski, MD
Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
Marlys H. Witte, MD
University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson
National Lymphedema Network, Inc.
116 New Montgomery Street, Suite
235
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: (415) 908-3681
Fax: (415) 908-3813
Infoline: 800-541-3259
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lymphnet.org
The NLN is a 501©(3)
Non-profit organization
Honorable Senator/Congressmember [Name of your legislator]
The National Lymphedema Network urges you
to move H.R. 4662 the Lymphedema Diagnosis and
Treatment Cost-Saving Act of
2010 [Kissell NC] to the House with a favorable recommendation this
session.
LYMPHEDEMA is a medical condition affecting an
estimated 1.5 to 3 million Medicare Beneficiaries
who are not currently
receiving treatment from Medicare according to the current medical standard of
care.
But what is worse is that Medicare is spending billions of dollars
every year treating largely preventable
lymphedema-related CELLULITIS.
There is no conflict with current
Congressional efforts to pass a Medicare access bill since this is a
quality
of care bill. The bill also does not conflict with any CMS policies, but instead
it removes ambiguities
and clarifies coverage issues.
LYMPHEDEMA is a condition caused by injury,
trauma or congenital defects involving the lymph
system. The primary
function of the lymphatic system is to cleanse the body of toxins and defend
against
infection. Primary Lymphedema is congenital. Secondary Lymphedema
can be caused by surgeries or
radiation treatments and is a common side
effect of cancer treatments that remove or damage lymph nodes.
Lymphedema
results in the chronic swelling of a body area or part nearest the damaged
portion of the lymph
system, commonly an arm or leg, but the chest, neck and
trunk can also be affected.
Lymphedema is incurable and progressive, and
if left untreated, the swollen area can become fibrous
and prone to serious,
debilitating infections. Over time, untreated lymphedema results in
disfigurement,
disability and even death.
The recognized standard of treatment of
lymphedema is Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT). CDT
comprises four
interacting protocols applied in two phases (acute and ongoing): manual lymph
drainage
(MLD); compression therapy; lymph drainage exercises; and skin
care. [Refs: ACS 1998, ISL 2003, NLN
2006]. The initial intensive phase is
performed by medical professionals, but ongoing care is patient
self-
provided using techniques taught the patient by the healthcare
provider.
Medicare does not cover lymphedema
treatment materials or treatment by lymphedema- qualified
professionals
other than Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists, nor does Medicare
require that
the provider of lymphedema treatment services be qualified in
the specialized techniques. While Medicare
does cover and pay for
statutorily-limited therapy and sequential compression pumps, many patients
suffer
recurrent infections, progressive degradation in their condition and
eventual disability because they cannot
afford the compression bandages and
garments required for their everyday self-care.
Denials of coverage for lymphedema compression bandage systems, compression
garments and devices and
supplies are based on inconsistent interpretations
of Federal statutes and the Medicare publication system,
and CMS has stated
repeatedly that a change in the law will be necessary in order for them to
change their
policies to cover these medically necessary items. This bill
will accomplish the required change.
Please understand that this is NOT a new
health mandate. The staff, equipment and facilities are already
in place in
most medical providers. Most providers already cover lymphedema treatment, and
there are no
exclusions in any medical policies that we are aware of. The
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of
1998 already mandates the treatment
of lymphedema resulting from breast cancer treatment. This bill would
extend
that care to Medicare beneficiaries for all causes of lymphedema.
It can be shown to result in medical savings
which exceed ongoing costs by factors of 2-5. A
lymphedema coverage mandate
has been in effect in Virginia since 2004, and a similar law was passed in
North Carolina this year, to become effective in 2010. Data from the first
five years of operation in Virginia
show claim costs of $1.12-2.82 per year
per contract (0.04-0.09% of total claims) not accounting for the
savings due
to reduced cellulitis rates.
We urge you to move H.R. 4662 Kissell
which has the backing of the National Lymphedema
Network. Contact us with
any questions or with requests for further information, medical evidence, cost
efficacy data or any other questions.
Sincerely yours,
Saskia R.J. Thiadens R.N.
Executive Director, NLN
------
HOUSE
Medical Doctors
Family medicine
Vic Snyder – [email protected]
Arkansas-2nd,
Democrat
2210 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0402
Phone: (202)
225-2506 / fax 225-5903
John C. Fleming – [email protected]
Louisiana-4th,
Republican
1023 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1804
Phone: (202)
225-2777 / fax - 225-8039
Paul Broun – [email protected]
Georgia-10th,
Republican
325 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1009
Phone: (202)
225-4101 / fax 226-0776
Delegate Donna Christensen
Virgin
Islands-Delegate, Democrat
1510 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-5501
Phone: (202) 225-1790 / Fax: 202-225-5517
Dir. of Health Policy
Britt Weinstock: [email protected]
Psychiatrist
Jim McDermott – [email protected]
Washington-7th,
Democrat
1035 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4707
Phone: (202)
225-3106 / Fax: 202-225-6197
Ob/gyns
Michael C. Burgess
Texas-26th,
Republican
229 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4326
Phone: (202)
225-7772, Fax: 202-225-2919
Heath aide - James Paluskiewicz: [email protected]
Ron Paul – already a co-sponsor!
Phil Roe– already a co-sponsor!
Phil
Gingrey
Georgia-11th, Republican
119 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC
20515-1011
Phone: (202) 225-2931 / Fax: 202-225-2944
Heath aide - Robert
Horne: [email protected]
Allergist
Steve Kagen - [email protected]
Wisconsin-8th,
Democrat
1232 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4908
Phone: (202)
225-5665 / fax 225-5729
Heart surgeon
Charles Boustany
Louisiana-7th,
Republican
1117 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1807
Phone: (202)
225-2031 / Fax: 202-225-5724
Heath aide - Mike Thompson: [email protected]
Radiation oncologist
Parker Griffith
Alabama-5th, Republican
417
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0105
Phone: (202) 225-4801 / Fax:
202-225-4392
Marcus Huskey: [email protected]
Orthopedic surgeons
Tom Price – [email protected]
Georgia-6th,
Republican
424 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1006
Phone: (202)
225-4501 / fax 225-4656
Hematologist/gastroenterologist
Bill Cassidy – [email protected]
Louisiana-6th,
Republican
506 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1806
Phone: (202)
225-3901 / fax 225-7313
Nurses
Carolyn McCarthy
New York-4th, Democrat
2346 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3204
Phone: (202) 225-5516 / fax 225-5758
Lois
Capps
California-23rd, Democrat
1110 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-0523
Phone: (202) 225-3601 / Fax: 202-225-5632
Heath aide - Amy
Fisher: [email protected]
Eddie
Bernice Johnson
Texas-30th, Democrat
1511 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-4330
Phone: (202) 225-8885 / fax 226-1477
Scientists
Physicists
Rush Holt – Rob Saunders - [email protected]
New
Jersey-12th, Democrat
1214 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-3012
Phone: (202) 225-5801 / fax 225-6025
Bill Foster – [email protected]
Illinois-14th,
Democrat
1339 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1314
Phone: (202)
225-2976 / fax 225-0697
Vern Ehlers – [email protected]
Michigan-3rd,
Republican
2182 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2203
Phone: (202)
225-3831 / fax 225-5144
Chemist
Ed Pastor – Karen Foster Wright (did not
clarify email address – sorry)
Arizona-4th, Democrat
2465 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0304
Phone: (202) 225-4065 / fax 225-1655
Microbiologist
Rep. Louise Slaughter –Sarah Norman ([email protected])
- (This is what they said the address was,
but it is strange not to use the
last name) or [email protected]
New
York-28th, Democrat
2469 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3228
Phone:
(202) 225-3615 / Fax: 202-225-7822
Physiologist
Roscoe Bartlett – Faye Powers - [email protected]
Maryland-6th,
Republican
2412 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2006
Phone: (202)
225-2721 / fax 225-2193
SENATE
Ob/gyns
Tom Coburn – [email protected]
(R - OK) Class
III
172 RUSSELL
SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC
20510
(202)
224-5754 / fax 224-6008
Orthopedic
surgeons
John Barrasso - [email protected]
(R - WY) Class
I
307 DIRKSEN
SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC
20510
(202)
224-6441 / fax 224-1724
-----
ENERGY AND COMMERCE
Henry A. Waxman, CA, Chairman – Phone: (202) 225-3976, Fax:
202-225-4099,
2204 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0530
[email protected]
John D. Dingell, MI, Chairman Emeritus - Phone: (202) 225-4071, Fax:
202-226-0371
2328 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2215
[email protected]
HEALTH
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ, Chairman - Phone: (202) 225-4671, Fax:
202-225-9665
237 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3006
Heath aide -
Tiffany Guarascio: [email protected]
John D. Dingell, MI - Phone: (202) 225-4071, Fax: 202-226-0371
237 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3006
[email protected]
Bart Gordon, TN - Phone: (202) 225-4231, Fax: 202-225-6887
2306 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4206
[email protected]
Anna G. Eshoo, CA - Phone: (202) 225-8104, Fax: 202-225-8890
205 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0514
[email protected]
Heath aide - Erin Katzelnick-Wise: [email protected]
Eliot L. Engel, NY - Phone: (202) 225-2464, Fax: 202-225-5513
2161
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3217
conduit name is Emily Gibbons: [email protected]
Gene Green, TX - Phone: (202) 225-1688, Fax: 202-225-9903
2372 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4329
Heath aide - Abigail Pinkele: [email protected]
Diana DeGette, CO - Phone: (202) 225-4431, Fax: 202-225-5657
2335 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0601
[email protected]
Heath aide -
Heather Foster: [email protected]
Lois Capps, CA, Vice Chair - Phone: (202) 225-3601, Fax: 202-225-5632
1110
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0523
Heath aide - Amy Fisher: [email protected]
Janice D. Schakowsky, IL - Phone: (202) 225-2111, Fax: 202-226-6890
2367
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1309
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Rebecca Mark: [email protected]
Tammy Baldwin, WI - Phone: (202) 225-2906, Fax: 202-225-6942
2446 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4902
[email protected]
Heath aide - Elizabeth Lee: [email protected]
Mike Ross, AR - Phone: (202) 225-3772, Fax: 202-225-1314
2436 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0404
Heath aide - Kate Callanan: [email protected]
Anthony D. Weiner, NY - Phone: (202) 225-6616, Fax: 202-226-7243
2104
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3209
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Joe Dunn: [email protected]
Jim Matheson, UT - Phone: (202) 225-3011, Fax: 202-225-5638
2434 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4402
[email protected]
Heath aide
- Shana Beavin: [email protected]
Jane Harman, CA - Phone: (202) 225-8220, Fax: 202-226-7290
2400 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0536
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Isidro Panuco: [email protected]
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX - Phone: (202) 225-3236, Fax: 202-225-1915
303
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4320
Heath aide - Julie Hart: [email protected]
John Barrow, GA - Phone: (202) 225-2823, Fax: 202-225-3377
213 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1012
Heath aide - Hill Thomas: [email protected]
Donna M. Christensen, VI - Phone: (202) 225-1790, Fax: 202-225-5517
1510
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-5501
[email protected]
Dir.
of Health Policy Britt Weinstock: [email protected]
Kathy Castor, FL - Phone: (202) 225-3376, Fax: 202-225-5652
317 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0911
Heath aide - Jocelyn Reid: [email protected]
John P. Sarbanes, MD - Phone: (202) 225-4016, Fax: 202-225-9219
426 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2003
Heath aide - Dvora Lovinger: [email protected]
Christopher S. Murphy, CT - Phone: (202) 225-4476, Fax: 202-225-4488
412
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0705
Jesse Young (Energy and Commerce
staffer): [email protected]
Heath
aide - Paul Kidwell (Health Staffer): [email protected]
Zachary T. Space, OH - Phone: (202) 225-6265, Fax: 202-225-3394
315 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3518
Betty Sutton, OH - Phone: (202) 225-3401, Fax: 202-225-2266
1721 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3513
Heath aide - Carla McNeill: [email protected]
Bruce L. Braley, IA - Phone: (202) 225-2911, Fax: 202-225-9129
1019
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1501
Heath aide - Mike Goodman: [email protected]
Henry A. Waxman, CA, Ex Officio - Phone: (202) 225-3976, Fax:
202-225-4099
2204 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0530
[email protected]
Nathan Deal, GA - Phone: (202) 225-5211, Fax: 202-225-5995
2133 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1010
Heath aide - Blake Fulenwider: [email protected]
Ralph M. Hall, TX – Phone: (202) 225-6673, Fax: 202-225-3332
2405 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4304
[email protected]
Heath aide -
Kyle Oliver: [email protected]
Ed Whitfield, KY - Phone: (202) 225-3115, Fax: 202-225-3547
2411 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1701
Heath aide - Jeff Mortier: [email protected]
John Shimkus, IL - Phone: (202) 225-5271, Fax: 202-225-5880
2452 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1319
Heath aide - Chris Sarley: [email protected]
John B. Shadegg, AZ - Phone: (202) 225-3361, Fax: 202-225-3462
436 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0303
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Paul Edattel: [email protected]
Roy Blunt, MO - Phone: (202) 225-6536, Fax: 202-225-5604
2229 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2507
[email protected]
Heath aide
- Kristina Weger: [email protected]
Steve Buyer, IN - Phone: (202) 225-5037, Fax: 202-225-2267
2230 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1404
Heath aide - Allison Hite: [email protected]
Joseph R. Pitts, PA - Phone: (202) 225-2411, Fax: 202-225-2013
420 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3816
Heath aide - Monica Volante: [email protected]
Mike Rogers, MI - Phone: (202) 225-3261, Fax: 202-225-5820
133 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2208
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC - Phone: (202) 225-1976, Fax: 202-225-3389
230
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3309
[email protected]
Heath aide - Sarah
Hale: [email protected],
Scheduler: [email protected]
Tim Murphy, PA - Phone: (202) 225-2301, Fax: 202-225-1844
322 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3818
Heath aide - Brad Grantz: [email protected]
Michael C. Burgess, TX - Phone: (202) 225-7772, Fax: 202-225-2919
229
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4326
Heath aide - James Paluskiewicz: [email protected]
Marsha Blackburn, TN - Phone: (202) 225-2811, Fax: 202-225-3004
217
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4207
Heath aide - Cara Dalmolin: [email protected]
Phil Gingrey, GA - Phone: (202) 225-2931, Fax: 202-225-2944
119 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1011
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Robert Horne: [email protected]
Joe Barton, TX, Ex Officio – Phone: (202) 225-2002, Fax: 202-225-3052
2109
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4306
Heath aide - Noel Bryant: [email protected]
WAYS AND MEANS
Charles B. Rangel, NY, Chairman - Phone: (202) 225-4365, Fax:
202-226-0816
2354 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3215
Heath aide -
Jon Sheiner: [email protected]
HEALTH
Fortney Pete Stark, CA, Chairman - Phone: (202) 225-5065, Fax:
202-226-3805
239 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0513
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Debra Curtis: [email protected]
Lloyd Doggett, TX - Phone: (202) 225-4865, Fax: 202-225-2947
201 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4325
Heath aide - Michealle Carpenter: [email protected]
Mike Thompson, CA - Phone: (202) 225-4865, Fax: 202-225-2947
231 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0501
Heath aide - Elizabeth Ziegler: [email protected]
Xavier Becerra, CA - Phone: (202) 225-6235, Fax: 202-225-2202
1119
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0531
Heath aide - Sean McCluskie: [email protected]
Earl Pomeroy, ND - Phone: (202) 225-2611, Fax: 202-226-0893
1501 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3401
[email protected]
Ron Kind, WI - Phone: (202) 225-5506, Fax: 202-225-5739
1406 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4903
Heath aide - Travis Robey: [email protected]
Earl Blumenauer, OR - Phone: (202) 225-4811, Fax: 202-225-8941
2267
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3703
Heath aide - Christa Shively: [email protected]
Bill Pascrell, Jr., NJ - Phone: (202) 225-5751, Fax: 202-225-5751
2464
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3008
Heath aide - Mandy Spears: [email protected]
Shelley Berkley, NV - Phone: (202) 225-5965, Fax: 202-225-3119
405 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2801
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Carrie Fiarman: [email protected]
Wally Herger, CA - Phone: (202) 225-3076, Fax: 202-225-1740
242 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0502
Heath aide - Jay Fulzsmann: [email protected]
Sam Johnson, TX - Phone: (202) 225-4201, Fax: 202-225-1485
1211 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4303
Heath aide - Jeni Healy: [email protected]
Paul Ryan, WI - Phone: (202) 225-3031, Fax: 202-225-3393
1113 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4901
Heath aide - Matt Hoffmann: [email protected]
Devin Nunes, CA - Phone: (202) 225-2523, Fax: 202-225-3404
1013 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0521
Heath aide - Andrew House [email protected]
Ginny Brown-Waite, FL - Phone: (202) 225-1002, Fax: 202-226-6559
414
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0905
Heath aide - Justin Graybelle: [email protected].
The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010 has been
introduced in the US House
of Representatives by my Congressman, Larry
Kissell, and assigned the number HR 4662. To read the bill
and related
information you can visit the Library of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/;
select search by bill
number and enter HR 4662 in the
box.
Please do your part to ensure this act is
passed into law!
Contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to
sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
The greater the
number of sponsors the greater our chances will be at getting this bill
passed. Elected
officials are only accountable to their constituents,
therefore only you have the power to persuade your
members of Congress to
support this bill. If passed, this act will ensure that we finally have
nationwide,
comprehensive lymphedema treatment coverage for all Americans
who are insured – no matter what the
cause of their lymphedema or whether
they have Medicare or private insurance.
Below are sample
letters you can use as is, but I hope that you will personalize yours,
especially if you are a
cancer survivor, have lymphedema, are a doctor or
therapist. Please forward this information to others
willing to
support this effort. Feel free to contact me with questions – Heather
Ferguson, [email protected].
You may
find your Congressional representatives by going to http://www.contactingthecongress.org
and
entering your address. If you are able to forward the National
Lymphedema Network office (nln@lymphnet.
org) the name and contact
information of your representative they will also send a letter to
him/her.
If you are represented by Congressman Kissell - instead of sending
the letter below please write to thank
him for his sponsorship and reiterate
the importance of this bill being passed into law.
EMAIL TO: Your
Representative
SUBJECT: Please (co)sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema
Diagnosis & Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010
EMAIL BODY:
Dear
(name of Representative),
I am writing to urge you to sign on as a primary or
co-sponsor of the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment
Cost Saving Act of
2010, HR 4662, introduced by Congressman Larry Kissell on February 23,
2010.
This act will reduce Medicare costs while improving patient care
and quality of life. Currently Medicare and
some private insurance
companies do not offer complete coverage for this disease, which afflicts
millions of
Americans, and is most commonly caused by treatment for cancer,
with breast cancer being by far the most
prevalent cause. These
policies only cover the expensive, difficult to treat and often chronic
complications
which are the inevitable result of patients having not
received the proper medical care in the earlier stages.
Such policies
are falling short of providing these individuals treatment in accordance with
established
standards of care. And current policies lead to the
expenditure of immense amounts of precious healthcare
resources to treat
preventable lymphedema-related cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema is a
medical necessity critical to the health and well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The clinically-proven treatment of lymphedema is
called "complex/complete decongestive
therapy". It is used world-wide
by the medical community, is not experimental and has decades of proven
success. Unfortunately, not all components of this treatment fall
under categories for which Medicare or
private insurance companies typically
provide coverage. With treatment, a patient lives a long, healthy and
virtually normal life. But without treatment, the disease can grow
progressively worse, causing severe
disfigurement, disability and pain, and
in some cases even results in death. A lymphedema treatment
mandate
went in to effect in North Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect
in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the
National Lymphedema Network and the endorsement of
other national groups is
anticipated. For additional information or to (co)sponsor this
bill, contact Zach
Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s office at [email protected]
or 202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare
costs, by signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address (required)
EMAIL TO: Both of your Senators
SUBJECT: Please Sponsor HR
4662, the Lymphedema Diagnosis & Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010
EMAIL
BODY:
Dear (name of Senator),
The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662, was introduced by
Congressman Larry Kissell on
February 23, 2010. I am writing to urge you to sponsor companion
legislation in the Senate.
This act will reduce Medicare costs while
improving patient care and quality of life. Currently Medicare and
some private insurance companies do not offer complete coverage for this
disease, which afflicts millions of
Americans, and is most commonly caused
by treatment for cancer, with breast cancer being by far the most
prevalent
cause. These policies only cover the expensive, difficult to treat and
often chronic complications
which are the inevitable result of patients
having not received the proper medical care in the earlier stages.
Such policies are falling short of providing these individuals treatment in
accordance with established
standards of care. And current policies
lead to the expenditure of immense amounts of precious healthcare
resources
to treat preventable lymphedema-related cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema
is a medical necessity critical to the health and well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The clinically-proven treatment of lymphedema is
called "complex/complete decongestive
therapy". It is used world-wide
by the medical community, is not experimental and has decades of proven
success. Unfortunately, not all components of this treatment fall
under categories for which Medicare or
private insurance companies typically
provide coverage. With treatment, a patient lives a long, healthy and
virtually normal life. But without treatment, the disease can grow
progressively worse, causing severe
disfigurement, disability and pain, and
in some cases even results in death. A lymphedema treatment
mandate
went in to effect in North Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect
in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the
National Lymphedema Network and the endorsement of
other national groups is
anticipated. For additional information or to (co)sponsor this
bill, contact Zach
Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s office at [email protected]
or 202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare
costs, by signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address (required)
---------
(Date)
Dear (name of Representative/Senator you are sending to),
I am writing to urge you to sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of the
Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment
Cost Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662,
introduced by Congressman Larry Kissell on February 23, 2010.
This act will reduce Medicare costs while improving patient care and quality
of life. Currently Medicare and
some private insurance companies do not
offer complete coverage for this disease, which afflicts millions of
Americans, and is most commonly caused by treatment for cancer. These
policies only cover the expensive,
difficult to treat and often chronic
complications which are the inevitable result of patients having not received
the proper medical care in the earlier stages. Such policies are falling
short of providing these individuals
treatment in accordance with
established standards of care. And current policies lead to the expenditure of
immense amounts of precious healthcare resources to treat preventable
lymphedema-related cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema is a medical necessity critical to the health and
well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The clinically-proven
treatment of lymphedema is called "complex decongestive therapy".
It is used
world-wide by the medical community, is not experimental and has decades of
proven success.
Unfortunately, not all components of this treatment fall
under categories for which Medicare or private
insurance companies typically
provide coverage. With treatment, a patient lives a long, healthy and virtually
normal life. But without treatment, the disease can grow progressively
worse, causing severe disfigurement,
disability and pain, and in some cases
even results in death. A lymphedema treatment mandate went in to
effect in
North Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the National Lymphedema Network
and Susan G. Komen for the
Cure, and the endorsement of other national
groups is anticipated. For additional information or to (co)
sponsor this
bill, contact Zach Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s office at [email protected]
or
202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare costs, by
signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Your address – REQUIRED)
---------------------------------------
Dear HR 4662 Supporters,
This
update is devoted to announcing a new way in which you can help. We are
launching the “Share
Your Lymphedema Story” campaign! Complete
information is below.
I am thrilled to be able to attend the National Lymphedema Conference taking place this week, and for
those of you
who will also be there I look forward to meeting you in person.
Please
continue to write Congress asking members to cosponsor our bill and do let me
know if you
have any questions or need any additional
information.
Many thanks,
Heather
Ferguson
[email protected]
The Lymphedema “Share Your Story”
Campaign
What will my letter be used for?
Your letter will be shared with
members of Congress and other groups which we are seeking support
from for HR 4662.
How to participate
Send to: [email protected]
Subject Line: My Lymphedema
Story
Format: Please place the following at the top of your letter
Name
Complete Address
Email
Address
Length: That is up to you but we suggest that you try to not
exceed one typed page.
Suggested Content:
· Is your
lymphedema primary or secondary?
· What is the cause, if known?
· If the result of cancer please specify what kind of cancer.
·
The age of onset.
· The length of time before you were
diagnosed.
· The length of time until you were able to begin
treatment.
· Have you ever had a problem accessing treatment or
finding a qualified doctor or therapist?
· Has your insurance ever
denied coverage for any portion of your treatment?
· Have you ever
had to go without treatment due to lack of insurance coverage?
· If
yes, what were the consequences?
· How has lymphedema impacted your
life?
· What would this legislation mean to you is passed and how
would it improve your quality of
life?
---------------------------
This update is devoted to
sharing with you the long list of endorsements for HR 4662. I know I speak
for the entire lymphedema community in expressing my gratitude to the
supporters listed below! If you
know of an organization, treatment
center, doctor, etc, who may be interested in endorsing the bill
please put them in touch with me or send me their contact
information.
And as always, please continue to contact all US
Representatives in your state, asking that they co-
sponsor HR
4662.
Many thanks,
Heather
Ferguson
[email protected]
FOUNDATIONS &
NON-PROFITS
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
(AAHSA)
Association of Oncology Social Work
Breast Cancer
Action
Breast Cancer Network of Strength
Colon Cancer
Alliance
Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Komen Advocacy
Alliance
Lighthouse Lymphedema Network
LiveStrong - the Lance Armstrong
Foundation
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Lymphedema Awareness Foundation
(LAF)
National Lymphedema Network
NC Comprehensive Cancer
Program
Sarcoma Foundation of America
ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS
Elymphnotes
Lymph Notes
Lymphedema
Community
Lymphedema People
Lymphland
Stand Up - Speak Out
The Annie
Appleseed Project
PROMINENT DOCTORS AND RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD OF
LYMPHOLOGY
Andrea Cheville, MD - Associate Professor Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic College
of Medicine
Robert E.
Ferrell, PhD - University of Pittsburgh Lymphedema Family Study
David N.
Finegold, MD - University of Pittsburgh Lymphedema Family Study
Lawrence
Gibson, MD - Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Nancy
A. Hutchison, MD - Medical Director for Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema,
Virginia
Piper Cancer Institute
Gil Yosipovitch, MD - Professor,
Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University Health
Sciences
TREATMENT CLINICS
Carolinas Rehabilitation
James
Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute
Northwest Lymphedema
Center
Rivertown Lymphedema Clinic and Rehab, LLC.
Siskin Hospital and
Rehabilitation Center
Vascular Anomalies Center at Children's Hospital
Boston
TRAINING SCHOOLS
Academy of Lymphatic Studies
Finger
Lakes Massage School
Klose Training & Consulting
Norton School of
Lymphatic Therapy
The Chikly Health Institute (C.H.I.)
The Vodder
School
MANUFACTURERS
BiaCare
BSN Medical / Jobst
CircAid
Medical Products, Inc.
Farrow Medical Innovations
ImpediMed
JoViPak
Corporation
Lohmann & Rauscher
LympheDIVAs
mediUSA
RHC,
LLC
Solaris
Torbot Group, Inc, Jobskin Div
SUPPLIERS
Alala,
LLC
Brown Medical Industries
Close to You, Inc.
Lymphedema Products,
LLC.
------------------------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EomADiGIFw&feature=email
Attention
all Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists:
Thank you so much
for your personal support of the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010. I am sending this special message for all OT’s and
PT’s on my contact list to urge
you to write your professional
organizations expressing your support for this bill and your desire that the
AOTA and APTA also support HR 4662. Both groups are currently
reviewing the legislation. As they
are deliberating over whether
or not to formally endorse this bill it is important that they hear from you,
their members. Please write the AOTA and APTA and ask that they
endorse HR 4662 and share this
important message with your
colleagues.
Thank you for your help,
Heather Ferguson
[email protected]
American
Occupational Therapy Association
4720 Montgomery Lane
PO Box
31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-12204720 Mont4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box
30824-1220
Phone: 301-652-2682 Phone: 301-652-2682 TDD: 800-377-8555
Fax: 301-652-7711
Fax: 301-652-77114-1
http://www.aota.org22
http://www.aota.org/Login.aspx 0
Phone: 301-652-2682 TDD:
800-377-8555 Fax: 301-652-7711
American Physical Therapy
Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA
22314-1488
800/999-APTA (2782)
703/684-APTA (2782)
Fax:
703/684-7343
http://www.apta.org
https://www.apta.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Logout&Template=/Security/login.cfm
December 18, 2009:
It
is will great pleasure that I am able to inform you that a sponsor for the
“Lymphedema Diagnosis and
Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010” has
been found! We are now one huge step closer to ensuring
nation-wide LE treatment coverage for all lymphedema
sufferers.
As some of you already know, this year I was
successful in obtaining a state mandate in North Carolina
which
will require all insurance plans in this state to cover LE treatment starting
in 2010. You can read
an account of that process at LymphNotes
(http://www.lymphnotes.com/story.php/id/475/). Having
succeeded at
the state level I set my sites on a federal bill. On November 30th I met with
my
Congressman, Larry Kissell. Today I was informed that
Congressman Kissell will indeed be the
Primary Sponsor of this
legislation, a draft of which is attached.
This draft has
already been sent to the Office of the Legislative Counsel. Legislative Counsel
essentially
advises and assists the House, its Committees, and
Members in preparing drafts that reflect the
legislative objectives
of the Member or Committee concerned. Once they have a final draft it will be
returned to Congressman Kissell who will then formally introduce the
bill. This could occur as soon as
January.
I have
been advised by Kissell’s staff that the most important thing we can do at this
time is seek
addition Primary Sponsors and Co-sponsors for the
bill. The more sponsors a bill has the better
chance it will have
of not dying in committee and actually being passed in to law. Please write
your
Congressperson and Senator and urge them to sign on as a
Primary or Co-sponsor. Instruct them to
contact Congressman
Kissell do so. They will of course know how to reach him but include these
numbers anyways - the Concord District Office at 704-786-1612 and the
number for Congressman
Kissell's DC Office which is 202-225-3715.
Also attached to this email are the documents I presented
at my
meeting with Kissell and my cover letter, which I am including just to give you
ideas for your
own. I would suggest including all of these items
along with the draft of the bill when you contact your
Congressperson and Senator.
To locate contact
information for your Congressperson go to http://www.house.gov/Welcome.shtml
and in the upper left hand corner you’ll enter your zip code. To
find your Senator’s contact information
go to http://www.senate.gov/
and use the look-up tools in the upper right hand corner.
This
evening I spoke with Bob Weiss, Legislative Advocate for the National
Lymphedema Network,
and also the author of the original draft of the proposed bill. I believe he will be preparing, on behalf of
the NLN, further instructions and advice for writing your
representatives. I will pass that and any other
information along
as I receive it.
It is critically important that we collect
these co-sponsors and only you can make this happen.
Elected
officials are only accountable to their constituents, so only you have the
power to persuade
him/her. Let me know if you have any questions
and thank you in advance for your help.
Please forward this to members
of the LE community and others willing to help.
Most
Sincerely,
Heather
Ferguson
[email protected]
704-532-8083
March 9,
2010:
I received the following email this morning from
Congressman Kissell's Communications Director,
Haven Kerchner. She
interviewed me this week and the following press release was sent out
yesterday.
Please feel free to forward this, especially to any media contacts you may
have. I am also
attaching the information to write your
Representative and Senators again. I have even simplified it a bit
by having a separate letter for each branch of Congress. There is a
slight wording difference to reflect
the fact that the bill has
already been introduced in the House but that we are still seeking a primary
sponsor to introduce the bill in the Senate.
Great
news - for those of you who do not yet know, we have picked up our first
co-sponsor, Ron Paul
of Texas! But we need many more so please make
the personal commitment to write your Congress
members ASAP if you
have not already done so.
Thank you - Heather Ferguson, [email protected]
For Immediate Release: March 4,
2010
Contact: Haven Kerchner, 704-786-1612
[email protected]
Congressman Kissell Introduces Bill
Requiring Fair Treatment of Lymphedema Patients
WASHINGTON –
Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-08) has introduced legislation which would
require Medicare to offer fair treatment coverage for Americans
afflicted with primary and secondary
lymphedema.
The
Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662, is
designed to
improve patient care and reduce costs associated with
complications related to lymphedema.
Lymphedema, also known as
lymphatic obstruction, is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue
swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic
system.
Kissell introduced the legislation after meeting with
constituent Heather Ferguson, whose son Dylan,
suffers from primary
lymphedema. Ferguson, who lives in Charlotte, has been active in working to
raise
awareness of the disease and to help alleviate the troubles
lymphedema sufferers have getting insurance
to cover
treatment.
“I was moved by Heather’s story, and all she has gone
through to ensure that her son receives this
important treatment.
Her dedication to helping others in the same situation has inspired me to help
her in
her quest to make sure lymphedema patients have an
opportunity to receive treatment,” Kissell said.
“This preventative
treatment will help improve life for many people throughout this
country.”
Ferguson has worked with North Carolina Representative
Tricia Cotham to get legislation through the
North Carolina General
Assembly to help patients in the state. But Ferguson wanted to help all
patients
suffering from lymphedema. She contacted Kissell, whom
she’d met before he was elected, and asked
him to help her bring
the fight national.
“When my insurance company agreed to cover
my son’s treatment for a year, I was shocked and so
discouraged. I
asked if they would offer this opportunity to other policy holders and they
said no. I
realized that I would be fighting with insurance
companies to ensure Dylan could receive treatment for
my entire
life and then, for Dylan’s entire life. It wasn’t enough to get our insurance
company to cover it,
I wanted to fix the problem,” Ferguson said.
“I am so lucky that my own representatives, both state and
national, have been so responsive to my efforts. I never expected this
to happen so quickly, and am so
thankful to Congressman Kissell for
his quick response to this. It has renewed my faith in the political
system
to know that my representatives are there to listen to their
constituents.”
The treatment for lymphedema is known as complex
decongestive therapy. The treatment is used world-
wide, is not
experimental, and has been used for decades with proven success. Not all
components of
the treatment fall under the categories for which
Medicare typically provide coverage. With treatment,
patients can
live long, healthy and virtually normal lives. However, without treatment, the
disease can
progressively worsen, causing severe disfigurement,
disability, pain and in some cases, even death.
June 10,
2010:
Fuschillo Announces Final Legislative Approval Of
Legislation Assisting People With Lymphedema -
June 10,
2010
(New York, N.Y.)-Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th
Senate District) announced that the State
Senate has approved
legislation he sponsors that will make information about lymphatic diseases
more
readily available to New Yorkers suffering from these diseases.
The State Assembly has also passed
the bill which now goes to
Governor Paterson for consideration.
Senator Fuschillo, said, “A
diagnosis of lymphedema can be frightening and confusing. Many people
are unfamiliar with the symptoms and recommended treatments. This
proposed law would ensure that
patients with lymphedema can more
easily access information that could help them cope and seek
treatment.”
“On behalf of our organization 1 in 9: The
Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition and the
lymphedema
patients we serve, we thank Senator Charles Fuschillo for introducing this
bill. With no
budgetary impact, this bill will now allow those who
need to find help and information on the impact that
lymphedema can
have on an individual’s life. When we hear someone’s cry for help who does not
know where to turn, we can now afford then the hope they deserve by
directing them to the
Department of Health website’s links to the
National Lymphedema and Lymphatic Disease
Organization,” said Geri
Barish, President of 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action
Coalition.
Senator Fuschillo’s bill (S.
629-A):
Requires the New York State Department of Health (DOH)
to provide wellness education and
outreach programs regarding
lymphatic diseases including primary lymphedema, secondary
lymphedema, lymphatic disease prevention, early diagnosis, options for
treatment and therapy, long-
term chronic care, the value of early
detection, and other relevant information;
Requires DOH to
link through the department’s website to national lymphedema and lymphatic
disease
organizations;
Includes lymphatic diseases in
the definition of “children with physical disabilities,” so that they may
receive appropriate attention and care to address any special
needs.
Lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the
interstitial tissue that causes swelling, most
often in the arm(s)
or leg(s), and occasionally in other parts of the body. Lymphedema can develop
when lymphatic vessels are missing or impaired (primary), or when
lymph vessels are damaged or
lymph nodes removed
(secondary).
Radiation therapy, used in the treatment of various
cancers, can damage otherwise healthy lymph nodes
and vessels
causing scar tissue to form which interrupts the normal flow of the lymphatic
fluid.
Untreated, lymphedema can lead to a decrease or loss of
functioning of the limbs, skin breakdown, and
chronic infections.
In the most severe cases, untreated lymphedema can develop into a rare form of
lymphatic cancer.
June 10, 2010 - Peeling Apples
with Lymphedema: One Woman’s Experience After Breast Cancer
Therapy
- By Lynette Summerill -
In 2001, Susan Niebur had a successful
career with NASA. As an astrophysicist, Niebur researched
new
missions to explore planets within our solar system and beyond. But that was
before she heard the
terrifying words, “You have breast
cancer.”
Shortly after the birth of her second baby, Niebur, who
lives near Washington D.C., was diagnosed
with inflammatory breast
cancer (IBC). It was June 16, 2007, just three weeks after her mother-in-law
was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, another kind of
breast cancer. After spending ten
months in chemotherapy, radiation
and recovering from a double mastectomy, Niebur learned she
would
have to deal with a side effect of her surgery and radiation treatments called
lymphedema— the
swelling of her arms, hands and chest— for the rest
of her life. She was just 37.
She was referred to a lymphedema
therapist at the time of her double mastectomy and right axillary
dissection because of the large number of lymph nodes that would have
to be removed. IBC is a fast
growing, highly invasive
cancer.
During her preventative meeting with a woman named
Bretta, her primary therapist, Niebur was given
prevention and
treatment information, which she read with conviction. But when her right arm
began to
swell about a month after surgery, it caused a reaction
even Niebur didn’t expect.
“I freaked out,” she said.
“Activities that were commonplace in my life before my surgery now spelt
trouble. I can’t wear rings or watches, carry a purse, or get a
manicure. Getting a mosquito bite or
paper cut is now considered
dangerous, and worse, I was told that I couldn’t ever pick up my children
with my right arm again.”
Approximately 10 million
Americans have lymphedema following cancer treatment, recurrent infections,
injuries or vascular surgery. According to the National Cancer Institute
(NCI), between six and 30
percent of breast cancer survivors suffer
with breast cancer-related lymphedema or BCRL. The range
of women
with BCRL is large due to the fact that many women are unaware that lymphedema
is a side
effect of their cancer treatment, so they may never seek
treatment for it, and tracking BCRL is not
currently
required.
July 14, 2010 from Heather
The big news
from the past two weeks...
HR 4662 has picked up the support of
the Colon Cancer Alliance and that of doctors Ferrell and
Finegold
who are conducting the Lymphedema Study at the University of Pittsburgh!
(Please consider
participating in the study - more info at
http://www.hgen.pitt.edu/projects/lymph/.)
We also have three
new co-sponsors bringing our total to 36 - you can see who all of our
co-sponsors
are on the chart below.
If your
Representative is not yet among them please read this synopsis written by
Jacqueline Hart
Swanson - she is the person directly and solely
responsible for getting her Representative, Kathy
Dahlkemper, to
co-sponsor HR 4662. I am sure there are people receiving this who think, good
grief,
when is Heather going to stop hounding us to contact our
members of Congress. But for all those who
have already done so I
am certain, that for whatever reason, many more still have not. I asked her to
share her story in the hopes that it would prompt others to stop
doubting the power of one single
ordinary person to make a
difference.
Instructions and email addresses for sending your
letters are at the conclusion of this message and the
informational
package to include is attached.
Many thanks for your continued
help and support - Heather Ferguson,
[email protected]
Jacqueline's message...
As a
secondary Lymphedema (upper left arm and hand) patient for the past 11 years, I
had basically
given up on support or interest of any kind. Then I
was hospitalized with cellulitus for a couple of days
in April and
started MLD again. My physical therapist handed me the information on HR 4662
(LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS and TREATMENT COST SAVING ACT), and the
wheels started
turning again. She asked me to contact our local
Congresswoman to ask her to co-sponsor the bill.
I am not a
political activist in any shape or form, so I was a bit apprehensive and
intimidated contacting
her. I decided to “cold call” at her local
office, as I don’t live near Washington , DC . I stopped and
made a
couple of copies of the bill, copies of “what is Lymphedema”, what causes it,
and a couple of
photos of what it was. I didn’t have my arm
wrapped nor was I wearing my garments, as I wanted
them to see what
I was talking about. I left the info and made an appointment for the following
week. I
sent a letter to all of my email contacts that might also
contact my local congresswoman, my family and
friends have been
sympathetic but have not really ever gotten involved in the whole issue. I
gave them
the email addresses of the local congresswoman, her chief
of staff and the health aide…….many of my
contacts did send a note
to ask for co-sponsorship.
The following week, I met with the
District Director, took garments and again, didn’t wrap, but brought
a
little more info, along with quotes of what the new garments and equipment will
cost. She listened and
asked many questions, I was actually given
45 minutes so I was able to educate her a bit. A couple of
other
staff members were there and she brought them in as no one knew about or ever
heard of
Lymphedema. They suggested if I wanted to meet with the
Congresswoman personally, I could drive
to another office (35 miles
away) and I would be given 10 minutes to state my case, as she was not
planning on being in the local office for several weeks. They were not
the least bit encouraging, as it’s
an election year, and I’m not a
member of her party, but I was still hopeful..The next day I met with the
Congresswoman, talked as fast as I could and pleaded with her to
co-sponsor the bill. I mentioned a
few people we knew in common and
thanked her for the work she is doing for our community. That
was
Saturday, on Monday morning I received a call from her Health Aide to tell me
personally that the
Congresswoman decided to co-sponsor the bill.
I literally jumped for joy and thanked her over and
over, then
called Heather to give her the great news. I was sincerely thrilled. See what
“one voice” can
do.
I had expected to be knocking on doors
and writing letters all summer long, it was not necessary. If
you
can please do this, Heather Ferguson ’s tremendous spearheading of this bill
will help it to be
passed. Whether you or a friend/family member
have this, it will help defray some of the costs involved
and also
it will open the eyes of many to our “orphan ailment”.
Talking
points for your letters to Congress
Specific goals of the bill
are:
· to provide diagnosis and treatment of individuals with
and at risk for lymphedema according to
current medical treatment
standards, including manual lymph drainage, compression bandages,
garments, devices, and exercise;
· to enhance quality of
lymphedema patient care by providing therapist qualification
requirements;
· to provide for lymphedema patient education in
the procedures for self-treatment so as to
transfer the treatment
from the clinical to the home setting;
· to encourage patient
self-treatment plan adherence by providing necessary medical supplies for
use at home;
· to expand patient access to qualified
lymphedema therapy by extending coverage to qualified,
trained
lymphedema therapists who may practice under a qualified physician, physical
therapist or
occupational therapist;
· to reduce
total healthcare costs through avoidance of periodic infections, pain and
disabilities
resulting from this medical
condition;
Additional Information:
· HR 4662 has been
endorsed by 40 organizations, including Live Strong (The Lance Armstrong
Foundation), the National Lymphedema Network, the Colon Cancer
Alliance, Living Beyond Breast
Cancer, the Breast Cancer Network of
Strength and the Komen Advocacy Alliance.
· As of July 1, 2010
HR 4662 has 33 co-sponsors distributed between both parties, both sexes
and spanning all political ideologies.
How to contact
Congress
· Send your email to both the Health
Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff
· State your desire
that your Representative sign on to co-sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010. Explain why they
should support the bill and how
this legislation is of significance
to you personally. The letter should be somewhat brief, to the point,
polite and professional. Conclude by making it clear you anticipate
receiving a response to your inquiry.
· You should
attach the informational packet attached to this email and explain that it was
given to
the attendees of the staff briefing held Wednesday, May
26th. You can also include this link - http:
//www.nortonschool.com/video/discoveryhealth/broadband.html - which is a
video clip that was shown
at the briefing.
was shown at the briefing.
PLEASE NOTE
THE EMAILS HAVE NOT BEEN HYPERLINKED DUE TO COMPLAINTS OF
PEOPLE NOT BEING
ABLE TO CUT AND PASTE.
District
Representative/Senator Senator emails and Lastly aides to senators.
ALABAMA
1 Jo Bonner [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Bobby Bright [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mike Rogers [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Robert B. Aderholt
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Parker Griffith
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Spencer
Bachus [email protected] [email protected]
7
Artur Davis [email protected] [email protected]
ALASKA
At Large Don Young [email protected]
[email protected]
AMERICAN SAMOA
Delegate Eni F. H.
Faleomavaega [email protected] [email protected]
ARIZONA
1 Ann Kirkpatrick [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Trent Franks [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John B. Shadegg
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Ed Pastor
(vacant) [email protected]
5 Harry E. Mitchell
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jeff Flake
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Raúl M.
Grijalva [email protected] [email protected]
8
Gabrielle Giffords [email protected]
[email protected]
ARKANSAS
1 Marion Berry
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Vic Snyder ?
[email protected]
3 John Boozman [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Mike Ross [email protected]
[email protected]
CALIFORNIA
1 Mike Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Wally Herger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel E. Lungren
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom
McClintock [email protected] [email protected]
5 Doris
O. Matsui [email protected] [email protected]
6 Lynn C.
Woolsey [email protected] [email protected]
7 George
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
8 Nancy Pelosi
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Barbara Lee
[email protected] [email protected]
10 John
Garamendi [email protected] [email protected]
11 Jerry
McNerney [email protected] [email protected]
12 Jackie
Speier [email protected] [email protected]
13 Fortney
Pete Stark [email protected] ?
14 Anna G. Eshoo
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Michael
M. Honda [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Zoe Lofgren
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Sam Farr
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Dennis
A. Cardoza [email protected] [email protected]
19
George Radanovich [email protected] [email protected]
20
Jim Costa [email protected] [email protected]
21
Devin Nunes [email protected] [email protected]
22
Kevin McCarthy [email protected] [email protected]
23
Lois Capps [email protected] [email protected]
24
Elton Gallegly [email protected] [email protected]
25
Howard P. "Buck'' McKeon [email protected]
[email protected]
26 David Dreier [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Brad Sherman [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Howard L. Berman
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Adam
B. Schiff [email protected] [email protected]
30
Henry A. Waxman [email protected]
[email protected]
31 Xavier Becerra [email protected]
[email protected]
32 Judy Chu [email protected]
[email protected]
33 Diane E. Watson
[email protected] [email protected]
34 Lucille
Roybal-Allard [email protected] [email protected]
35
Maxine Waters [email protected]
[email protected]
36 Jane Harman [email protected]
[email protected]
37 Laura Richardson
[email protected] [email protected]
38 Grace F.
Napolitano [email protected] [email protected]
39 Linda T.
Sánchez [email protected] [email protected]
40 Edward
R. Royce [email protected] [email protected]
41 Jerry Lewis
[email protected] [email protected]
42 Gary G.
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
43 Joe Baca
[email protected] [email protected]
44 Ken Calvert
[email protected] [email protected]
45 Mary Bono
Mack [email protected] [email protected]
46 Dana
Rohrabacher [email protected]
[email protected]
47 Loretta Sanchez
[email protected] [email protected]
48 John
Campbell [email protected] [email protected]
49 Darrell
E. Issa [email protected] [email protected]
50 Brian
P. Bilbray [email protected] [email protected]
51 Bob
Filner [email protected] [email protected]
52 Duncan
Hunter [email protected] [email protected]
53 Susan A.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
COLORADO
1 Diana DeGette [email protected] [email protected];
Kerry.Bolger@mail.
house.gov
2 Jared Polis
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John T. Salazar
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betsy Markey
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Doug Lamborn
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Mike Coffman
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Ed Perlmutter
[email protected] [email protected]
CONNECTICUT
1 John B. Larson [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Courtney [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Rosa L. DeLauro [email protected]
[email protected]
4 James A. Himes [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Christopher S. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
DELAWARE
At Large Michael N. Castle [email protected]
[email protected]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton [email protected] [email protected]
FLORIDA
1 Jeff Miller [email protected] [email protected]
2
Allen Boyd [email protected] [email protected]
3
Corrine Brown [email protected] [email protected]
4
Ander Crenshaw [email protected] [email protected]
5
Ginny Brown-Waite ? [email protected]
6 Cliff Stearns
[email protected] [email protected]
7 John L. Mica
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Alan Grayson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gus M. Bilirakis
[email protected] [email protected]
10 C. W. Bill Young
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Kathy Castor
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Adam H. Putnam
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Vern
Buchanan [email protected] [email protected]
14
Connie Mack [email protected] [email protected]
15 Bill
Posey [email protected] [email protected]
16
Thomas J. Rooney [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Kendrick B. Meek
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen [email protected] [email protected]
19
Theodore E. Deutch [email protected]
[email protected]
20 Debbie Wasserman Schultz
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Lincoln
Diaz-Balart [email protected] [email protected]
22
Ron Klein [email protected] [email protected]
23 Alcee
L. Hastings [email protected] [email protected]
24 Suzanne
M. Kosmas [email protected] [email protected]
25
Mario Diaz-Balart [email protected]
[email protected]
GEORGIA
1 Jack Kingston
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Sanford D. Bishop
Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
3 Lynn A.
Westmoreland [email protected] [email protected]
4 Henry
C. "Hank'' Johnson Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
5 John Lewis [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Tom Price ?
[email protected]
7 John Linder [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jim Marshall [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Nathan Deal [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Paul C. Broun
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Phil Gingrey
[email protected] [email protected]
12 John Barrow
[email protected] [email protected]
13 David Scott
[email protected] [email protected]
GUAM
Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo [email protected]
[email protected]
HAWAII
1 Charles K. Djou
2
Mazie K. Hirono [email protected]
[email protected]
IDAHO
1 Walt Minnick
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael K. Simpson
[email protected] [email protected]
ILLINOIS
1
Bobby L. Rush [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel
Lipinski [email protected] [email protected]
4 Luis V.
Gutierrez [email protected] [email protected]
5 Mike
Quigley 1 [email protected] [email protected]
6 Peter J.
Roskam [email protected] [email protected]
7 Danny K.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
8 Melissa L.
Bean [email protected] [email protected]
9 Janice
D. Schakowsky [email protected] [email protected]
10
Mark Steven Kirk [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Deborah L. Halvorson
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Jerry F.
Costello [email protected] [email protected]
13
Judy Biggert [email protected] [email protected]
14
Bill Foster [email protected] [email protected]
15
Timothy V. Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Donald A. Manzullo
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Phil Hare
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Aaron Schock
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John Shimkus
[email protected] [email protected]
INDIANA
1
Peter J. Visclosky [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Donnelly [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mark E. Souder [email protected]
Kristin@[email protected]
4 Steve Buyer ?
[email protected]
5 Dan Burton [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Mike Pence [email protected]
[email protected]
7 André Carson [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Brad Ellsworth [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Baron P. Hill [email protected]
[email protected]
IOWA
1 Bruce L. Braley ?
[email protected]
2 David Loebsack [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Leonard L. Boswell
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Latham
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Steve King
[email protected] [email protected]
KANSAS
1
Jerry Moran [email protected] [email protected]
2
Lynn Jenkins [email protected] [email protected]
3
Dennis Moore [email protected] [email protected]
4
Todd Tiahrt [email protected]
[email protected]
KENTUCKY
1 Ed Whitfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Brett Guthrie
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John A. Yarmuth
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Geoff Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Harold
Rogers [email protected] [email protected]
6 Ben Chandler
[email protected] [email protected]
LOUISIANA
1
Steve Scalise [email protected] [email protected]
2 Anh
"Joseph'' Cao [email protected] [email protected]
3
Charlie Melancon [email protected] [email protected]
4
John Fleming [email protected] [email protected]
5
Rodney Alexander [email protected] [email protected]
6
Bill Cassidy [email protected] [email protected]
7
Charles W. Boustany Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
MAINE
1 Chellie Pingree
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael H.
Michaud [email protected] [email protected]
MARYLAND
1 Frank Kratovil Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John P.
Sarbanes [email protected] [email protected]
4 Donna
F. Edwards [email protected] [email protected]
5
Steny H. Hoyer [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Roscoe G. Bartlett
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Elijah E. Cummings
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Chris Van
Hollen [email protected] [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
1 John W. Olver [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Richard E. Neal [email protected]
[email protected]
3 James P. McGovern
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Barney
Frank [email protected]; Maria.Giesta@@mail.house.gov
Diego.Sanchez@mail.
house.gov
5 Niki Tsongas
[email protected] [email protected]
6 John
F. Tierney [email protected] [email protected]
7 Edward
J. Markey [email protected] [email protected]
8 Michael E.
Capuano [email protected] [email protected]
9 Stephen
F. Lynch [email protected] [email protected]
10 Bill
Delahunt [email protected] [email protected]
MICHIGAN
1 Bart Stupak [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Peter Hoekstra
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Vernon J.
Ehlers [email protected] [email protected]
4 Dave Camp
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Dale E. Kildee
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Fred Upton
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mark H. Schauer
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gary C. Peters
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Candice S. Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Thaddeus G. McCotter
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Sander M. Levin
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick [email protected] [email protected]
14 John
Conyers Jr. [email protected] [email protected];
Joel.
[email protected]
15 John D. Dingell
[email protected] ?
MINNESOTA
1 Timothy J. Walz
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John Kline
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Erik Paulsen
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betty
McCollum [email protected] [email protected]
5 Keith
Ellison [email protected] [email protected]
6 Michele Bachmann
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Collin C. Peterson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 James L.
Oberstar [email protected]
[email protected]
MISSISSIPPI
1 Travis W. Childers
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bennie G. Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Gregg Harper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gene Taylor
[email protected] [email protected]
MISSOURI
1
Wm. Lacy Clay [email protected]
[email protected]
2 W. Todd Akin [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Russ Carnahan [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ike Skelton [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Emanuel Cleaver [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Sam Graves [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Roy Blunt [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jo Ann Emerson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Blaine
Luetkemeyer [email protected]
[email protected]
MONTANA
At Large Denny Rehberg
[email protected] [email protected]
NEBRASKA
1 Jeff
Fortenberry [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Lee Terry [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Adrian Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
NEVADA
1 Shelley Berkley
[email protected] ?
2 Dean Heller [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Dina Titus [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1 Carol Shea-Porter
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Paul W. Hodes
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW JERSEY
1
Robert E. Andrews [email protected] [email protected]
2
Frank A. LoBiondo [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John H. Adler [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Christopher H. Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Scott Garrett [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Frank Pallone Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Leonard Lance
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Bill Pascrell Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Steven R. Rothman
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Donald M. Payne
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen [email protected] [email protected]
12
Rush D. Holt ? [email protected]
13 Albio Sires
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW MEXICO
1 Martin Heinrich [email protected] [email protected]
2
Harry Teague [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ben
Ray Luján [email protected] [email protected]
NEW YORK
1 Timothy H. Bishop [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Steve Israel [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Peter T. King [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Carolyn McCarthy
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Gary L.
Ackerman [email protected] [email protected]
6 Gregory
W. Meeks [email protected] [email protected]
7 Joseph
Crowley [email protected] [email protected]
8 Jerrold
Nadler [email protected] [email protected]
9 Anthony D.
Weiner [email protected] [email protected]
10 Edolphus Towns
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Yvette D.
Clarke (vacant) [email protected]
12 Nydia M. Velázquez
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Michael E. McMahon
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Carolyn
B. Maloney [email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles
B. Rangel [email protected] [email protected]
16 José E.
Serrano [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Eliot L. Engel [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Nita M. Lowey
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John J. Hall
[email protected] [email protected]
20 Scott Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Paul Tonko
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Maurice D.
Hinchey [email protected] [email protected]
23 William
L. Owens [email protected] [email protected]
24 Michael
A. Arcuri [email protected] [email protected]
25 Daniel
B. Maffei [email protected] [email protected]
26
Christopher John Lee [email protected] [email protected]
27 Brian Higgins [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Louise McIntosh Slaughter
[email protected] ?
29 Eric J. J. Massa [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
1 G. K. Butterfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bob Etheridge
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Walter B.
Jones [email protected] [email protected]
4 David
E. Price [email protected] [email protected]
5
Virginia Foxx [email protected] [email protected]
6
Howard Coble [email protected] [email protected]
7 Mike
McIntyre [email protected] [email protected]
8 Larry
Kissell [email protected] [email protected]
9 Sue
Wilkins Myrick [email protected] [email protected]
10
Patrick T. McHenry [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Heath Shuler [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Melvin L. Watt [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Brad Miller [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Kay Hagan [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Richard Burr Chris
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA
At Large
Earl Pomeroy [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Delegate
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [email protected]
[email protected].
gov
OHIO
1 Steve Driehaus
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jean Schmidt
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Michael R. Turner
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jim Jordan
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Robert E. Latta
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Charles A. Wilson
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Steve Austria
[email protected] [email protected]
8 John A.
Boehner [email protected] [email protected]
9
Marcy Kaptur [email protected] [email protected]
10 Dennis
J. Kucinich [email protected] [email protected]
11 Marcia
L. Fudge [email protected] [email protected]
12 Patrick
J. Tiberi [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Betty Sutton
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Steven C.
LaTourette [email protected] [email protected]
15 Mary Jo
Kilroy [email protected] [email protected]
16
John A. Boccieri [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Tim Ryan [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Zachary T. Space
[email protected] [email protected]
OKLAHOMA
1
John Sullivan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Dan Boren [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Frank D. Lucas
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Cole
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Mary Fallin
[email protected] [email protected]
OREGON
1
David Wu [email protected] [email protected]
2 Greg
Walden [email protected] [email protected]
3 Earl
Blumenauer [email protected] [email protected]
4 Peter
A. DeFazio [email protected] [email protected]
5 Kurt Schrader
[email protected] [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
1
Robert A. Brady [email protected] [email protected]
2
Chaka Fattah [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Kathleen A. Dahlkemper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jason Altmire
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Glenn Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jim Gerlach
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Joe Sestak
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Patrick J. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Bill Shuster
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Christopher P.
Carney [email protected] [email protected]
11 Paul E.
Kanjorski [email protected] [email protected]
12 Mark
S. Critz (vacant) (vacant)
13 Allyson Y. Schwartz
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Michael F. Doyle
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles W. Dent
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Joseph R.
Pitts [email protected] [email protected]
17 Tim
Holden [email protected] [email protected]
18 Tim
Murphy [email protected] [email protected]
19 Todd
Russell Platts [email protected]
[email protected]
PUERTO RICO
Delegate Pedro R.
Pierluisi [email protected]
[email protected]
RHODE ISLAND
1 Patrick J. Kennedy
[email protected] [email protected]
2 James R. Langevin
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA
1 Henry E. Brown Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Wilson [email protected]
[email protected]
3 J. Gresham Barrett
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Bob Inglis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 John M. Spratt Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
6 James E. Clyburn
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH
DAKOTA
At Large Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [email protected]
[email protected]
TENNESSEE
1 David P. Roe
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John J. Duncan Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Zach Wamp
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Lincoln Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Jim Cooper
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Bart Gordon
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Marsha
Blackburn [email protected] [email protected]
8 John
S. Tanner [email protected] [email protected]
9 Steve
Cohen [email protected] [email protected]
TEXAS
1 Louie Gohmert [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Ted Poe [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Sam Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ralph M. Hall [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Jeb Hensarling [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Joe Barton [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Abney Culberson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Kevin Brady
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Al Green
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Michael T.
McCaul [email protected] [email protected]
11 K. Michael
Conaway [email protected] [email protected]
12 Kay
Granger [email protected] [email protected]
13 Mac
Thornberry [email protected] [email protected]
14 Ron
Paul [email protected] [email protected]
15 Rubén
Hinojosa [email protected] [email protected]
16
Silvestre Reyes [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Chet Edwards
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Sheila
Jackson Lee [email protected] [email protected]
19 Randy
Neugebauer [email protected] [email protected]
20
Charles A. Gonzalez [email protected] [email protected]
21
Lamar Smith [email protected] [email protected]
22
Pete Olson [email protected] [email protected]
23
Ciro D. Rodriguez [email protected] [email protected]
24
Kenny Marchant [email protected]
[email protected]
25 Lloyd Doggett
[email protected] [email protected]
26
Michael C. Burgess [email protected] ?
27 Solomon P. Ortiz
[email protected] [email protected]
28 Henry Cuellar
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Gene Green
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Eddie
Bernice Johnson [email protected] ?
31 John R. Carter
[email protected] [email protected]
32 Pete Sessions
[email protected] [email protected]
UTAH
1 Rob
Bishop [email protected] [email protected]
2 Jim
Matheson [email protected] [email protected]
3 Jason
Chaffetz [email protected] [email protected]
VERMONT
At Large Peter Welch [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Delegate Donna M.
Christensen [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGINIA
1 Robert J. Wittman
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Glenn C. Nye
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Robert C.
"Bobby'' Scott [email protected] [email protected]
4 J.
Randy Forbes [email protected] [email protected]
5
Thomas S. P. Perriello [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Bob Goodlatte [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Eric Cantor [email protected]
[email protected]
8 James P. Moran [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Rick Boucher [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Frank R. Wolf [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Gerald E. Connolly
[email protected] [email protected]
WASHINGTON
1 Jay Inslee [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Rick Larsen [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Brian Baird [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Doc Hastings [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Norman D. Dicks
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Jim McDermott
[email protected] [email protected]
8 David G. Reichert
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Adam Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA
1 Alan B. Mollohan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Shelley Moore Capito
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Nick J. Rahall II
[email protected] [email protected]
WISCONSIN
1 Paul
Ryan [email protected] [email protected]
2 Tammy
Baldwin [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ron Kind
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gwen Moore
[email protected] [email protected]
5 F. James
Sensenbrenner Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
6
Thomas E. Petri [email protected]
[email protected]
7 David R. Obey
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Steve Kagen
? ?
WYOMING
At Large Cynthia M. Lummis [email protected]
[email protected]
District
Representative/Senator (names in blue have co-sponsored) Chief
of
Staff
(FirstName.LastName@...) Health Legislative
Aide
(FirstName.LastName@...)
ALABAMA
1 Jo Bonner
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bobby Bright
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
4
Robert B. Aderholt [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Parker Griffith
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Spencer
Bachus [email protected] [email protected]
7
Artur Davis [email protected] [email protected]
ALASKA
At Large Don Young [email protected]
[email protected]
AMERICAN SAMOA
Delegate Eni F. H.
Faleomavaega [email protected] [email protected]
ARIZONA
1 Ann Kirkpatrick [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Trent Franks [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John B. Shadegg
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Ed Pastor
(vacant) [email protected]
5 Harry E. Mitchell
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jeff Flake
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Raúl M.
Grijalva [email protected] [email protected]
8
Gabrielle Giffords [email protected]
[email protected]
ARKANSAS
1 Marion Berry
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Vic Snyder ?
[email protected]
3 John Boozman [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Mike Ross [email protected]
[email protected]
CALIFORNIA
1 Mike Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Wally Herger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel E. Lungren
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom
McClintock [email protected] [email protected]
5 Doris
O. Matsui [email protected] [email protected]
6 Lynn C.
Woolsey [email protected] [email protected]
7 George
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
8 Nancy Pelosi
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Barbara Lee
[email protected] [email protected]
10 John
Garamendi [email protected] [email protected]
11 Jerry
McNerney [email protected] [email protected]
12 Jackie
Speier [email protected] [email protected]
13 Fortney
Pete Stark [email protected] ?
14 Anna G. Eshoo
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Michael
M. Honda [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Zoe Lofgren
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Sam Farr
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Dennis
A. Cardoza [email protected] [email protected]
19
George Radanovich [email protected] [email protected]
20
Jim Costa [email protected] [email protected]
21
Devin Nunes [email protected] [email protected]
22
Kevin McCarthy [email protected] [email protected]
23
Lois Capps [email protected] [email protected]
24
Elton Gallegly [email protected] [email protected]
25
Howard P. "Buck'' McKeon [email protected]
[email protected]
26 David Dreier [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Brad Sherman [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Howard L. Berman
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Adam
B. Schiff [email protected] [email protected]
30
Henry A. Waxman [email protected]
[email protected]
31 Xavier Becerra [email protected]
[email protected]
32 Judy Chu [email protected]
[email protected]
33 Diane E. Watson
[email protected] [email protected]
34 Lucille
Roybal-Allard [email protected] [email protected]
35
Maxine Waters [email protected]
[email protected]
36 Jane Harman [email protected]
[email protected]
37 Laura Richardson
[email protected] [email protected]
38 Grace F.
Napolitano [email protected] [email protected]
39 Linda T.
Sánchez [email protected] [email protected]
40 Edward
R. Royce [email protected] [email protected]
41 Jerry Lewis
[email protected] [email protected]
42 Gary G.
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
43 Joe Baca
[email protected] [email protected]
44 Ken Calvert
[email protected] [email protected]
45 Mary Bono
Mack [email protected] [email protected]
46 Dana
Rohrabacher [email protected]
[email protected]
47 Loretta Sanchez
[email protected] [email protected]
48 John
Campbell [email protected] [email protected]
49 Darrell
E. Issa [email protected] [email protected]
50 Brian
P. Bilbray [email protected] [email protected]
51 Bob
Filner [email protected] [email protected]
52 Duncan
Hunter [email protected] [email protected]
53 Susan A.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
COLORADO
1 Diana DeGette [email protected] [email protected];
Kerry.Bolger@mail.
house.gov
2 Jared Polis
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John T. Salazar
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betsy Markey
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Doug Lamborn
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Mike Coffman
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Ed Perlmutter
[email protected] [email protected]
CONNECTICUT
1 John B. Larson [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Courtney [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Rosa L. DeLauro [email protected]
[email protected]
4 James A. Himes [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Christopher S. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
DELAWARE
At Large Michael N. Castle [email protected]
[email protected]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton [email protected] [email protected]
FLORIDA
1 Jeff Miller [email protected] [email protected]
2
Allen Boyd [email protected] [email protected]
3
Corrine Brown [email protected] [email protected]
4
Ander Crenshaw [email protected] [email protected]
5
Ginny Brown-Waite ? [email protected]
6 Cliff Stearns
[email protected] [email protected]
7 John L. Mica
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Alan Grayson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gus M. Bilirakis
[email protected] [email protected]
10 C. W. Bill Young
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Kathy Castor
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Adam H. Putnam
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Vern
Buchanan [email protected] [email protected]
14
Connie Mack [email protected] [email protected]
15 Bill
Posey [email protected] [email protected]
16
Thomas J. Rooney [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Kendrick B. Meek
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen [email protected] [email protected]
19
Theodore E. Deutch [email protected]
[email protected]
20 Debbie Wasserman Schultz
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Lincoln
Diaz-Balart [email protected] [email protected]
22
Ron Klein [email protected] [email protected]
23 Alcee
L. Hastings [email protected] [email protected]
24 Suzanne
M. Kosmas [email protected] [email protected]
25
Mario Diaz-Balart [email protected]
[email protected]
GEORGIA
1 Jack Kingston
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Sanford D. Bishop
Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
3 Lynn A.
Westmoreland [email protected] [email protected]
4 Henry
C. "Hank'' Johnson Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
5 John Lewis [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Tom Price ?
[email protected]
7 John Linder [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jim Marshall [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Nathan Deal [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Paul C. Broun
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Phil Gingrey
[email protected] [email protected]
12 John Barrow
[email protected] [email protected]
13 David Scott
[email protected] [email protected]
GUAM
Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo [email protected]
[email protected]
HAWAII
1 Charles K. Djou
2
Mazie K. Hirono [email protected]
[email protected]
IDAHO
1 Walt Minnick
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael K. Simpson
[email protected] [email protected]
ILLINOIS
1
Bobby L. Rush [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel
Lipinski [email protected] [email protected]
4 Luis V.
Gutierrez [email protected] [email protected]
5 Mike
Quigley 1 [email protected] [email protected]
6 Peter J.
Roskam [email protected] [email protected]
7 Danny K.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
8 Melissa L.
Bean [email protected] [email protected]
9 Janice
D. Schakowsky [email protected] [email protected]
10
Mark Steven Kirk [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Deborah L. Halvorson
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Jerry F.
Costello [email protected] [email protected]
13
Judy Biggert [email protected] [email protected]
14
Bill Foster [email protected] [email protected]
15
Timothy V. Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Donald A. Manzullo
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Phil Hare
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Aaron Schock
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John Shimkus
[email protected] [email protected]
INDIANA
1
Peter J. Visclosky [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Donnelly [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mark E. Souder [email protected]
Kristin@[email protected]
4 Steve Buyer ?
[email protected]
5 Dan Burton [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Mike Pence [email protected]
[email protected]
7 André Carson [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Brad Ellsworth [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Baron P. Hill [email protected]
[email protected]
IOWA
1 Bruce L. Braley ?
[email protected]
2 David Loebsack [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Leonard L. Boswell
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Latham
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Steve King
[email protected] [email protected]
KANSAS
1
Jerry Moran [email protected] [email protected]
2
Lynn Jenkins [email protected] [email protected]
3
Dennis Moore [email protected] [email protected]
4
Todd Tiahrt [email protected]
[email protected]
KENTUCKY
1 Ed Whitfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Brett Guthrie
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John A. Yarmuth
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Geoff Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Harold
Rogers [email protected] [email protected]
6 Ben Chandler
[email protected] [email protected]
LOUISIANA
1
Steve Scalise [email protected] [email protected]
2 Anh
"Joseph'' Cao [email protected] [email protected]
3
Charlie Melancon [email protected] [email protected]
4
John Fleming [email protected] [email protected]
5
Rodney Alexander [email protected] [email protected]
6
Bill Cassidy [email protected] [email protected]
7
Charles W. Boustany Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
MAINE
1 Chellie Pingree
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael H.
Michaud [email protected] [email protected]
MARYLAND
1 Frank Kratovil Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John P.
Sarbanes [email protected] [email protected]
4 Donna
F. Edwards [email protected] [email protected]
5
Steny H. Hoyer [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Roscoe G. Bartlett
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Elijah E. Cummings
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Chris Van
Hollen [email protected] [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
1 John W. Olver [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Richard E. Neal [email protected]
[email protected]
3 James P. McGovern
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Barney
Frank [email protected]; Maria.Giesta@@mail.house.gov
Diego.Sanchez@mail.
house.gov
5 Niki Tsongas
[email protected] [email protected]
6 John
F. Tierney [email protected] [email protected]
7 Edward
J. Markey [email protected] [email protected]
8 Michael E.
Capuano [email protected] [email protected]
9 Stephen
F. Lynch [email protected] [email protected]
10 Bill
Delahunt [email protected] [email protected]
MICHIGAN
1 Bart Stupak [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Peter Hoekstra
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Vernon J.
Ehlers [email protected] [email protected]
4 Dave Camp
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Dale E. Kildee
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Fred Upton
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mark H. Schauer
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gary C. Peters
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Candice S. Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Thaddeus G. McCotter
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Sander M. Levin
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick [email protected] [email protected]
14 John
Conyers Jr. [email protected] [email protected];
Joel.
[email protected]
15 John D. Dingell
[email protected] ?
MINNESOTA
1 Timothy J. Walz
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John Kline
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Erik Paulsen
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betty
McCollum [email protected] [email protected]
5 Keith
Ellison [email protected] [email protected]
6 Michele Bachmann
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Collin C. Peterson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 James L.
Oberstar [email protected]
[email protected]
MISSISSIPPI
1 Travis W. Childers
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bennie G. Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Gregg Harper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gene Taylor
[email protected] [email protected]
MISSOURI
1
Wm. Lacy Clay [email protected]
[email protected]
2 W. Todd Akin [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Russ Carnahan [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ike Skelton [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Emanuel Cleaver [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Sam Graves [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Roy Blunt [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jo Ann Emerson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Blaine
Luetkemeyer [email protected]
[email protected]
MONTANA
At Large Denny Rehberg
[email protected] [email protected]
NEBRASKA
1 Jeff
Fortenberry [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Lee Terry [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Adrian Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
NEVADA
1 Shelley Berkley
[email protected] ?
2 Dean Heller [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Dina Titus [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1 Carol Shea-Porter
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Paul W. Hodes
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW JERSEY
1
Robert E. Andrews [email protected] [email protected]
2
Frank A. LoBiondo [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John H. Adler [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Christopher H. Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Scott Garrett [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Frank Pallone Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Leonard Lance
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Bill Pascrell Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Steven R. Rothman
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Donald M. Payne
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen [email protected] [email protected]
12
Rush D. Holt ? [email protected]
13 Albio Sires
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW MEXICO
1 Martin Heinrich [email protected] [email protected]
2
Harry Teague [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ben
Ray Luján [email protected] [email protected]
NEW YORK
1 Timothy H. Bishop [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Steve Israel [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Peter T. King [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Carolyn McCarthy
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Gary L.
Ackerman [email protected] [email protected]
6 Gregory
W. Meeks [email protected] [email protected]
7 Joseph
Crowley [email protected] [email protected]
8 Jerrold
Nadler [email protected] [email protected]
9 Anthony D.
Weiner [email protected] [email protected]
10 Edolphus Towns
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Yvette D.
Clarke (vacant) [email protected]
12 Nydia M. Velázquez
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Michael E. McMahon
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Carolyn
B. Maloney [email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles
B. Rangel [email protected] [email protected]
16 José E.
Serrano [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Eliot L. Engel [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Nita M. Lowey
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John J. Hall
[email protected] [email protected]
20 Scott Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Paul Tonko
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Maurice D.
Hinchey [email protected] [email protected]
23 William
L. Owens [email protected] [email protected]
24 Michael
A. Arcuri [email protected] [email protected]
25 Daniel
B. Maffei [email protected] [email protected]
26
Christopher John Lee [email protected] [email protected]
27 Brian Higgins [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Louise McIntosh Slaughter
[email protected] ?
29 Eric J. J. Massa [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
1 G. K. Butterfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bob Etheridge
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Walter B.
Jones [email protected] [email protected]
4 David
E. Price [email protected] [email protected]
5
Virginia Foxx [email protected] [email protected]
6
Howard Coble [email protected] [email protected]
7 Mike
McIntyre [email protected] [email protected]
8 Larry
Kissell [email protected] [email protected]
9 Sue
Wilkins Myrick [email protected] [email protected]
10
Patrick T. McHenry [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Heath Shuler [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Melvin L. Watt [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Brad Miller [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Kay Hagan [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Richard Burr Chris
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA
At Large
Earl Pomeroy [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Delegate
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [email protected]
[email protected].
gov
OHIO
1 Steve Driehaus
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jean Schmidt
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Michael R. Turner
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jim Jordan
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Robert E. Latta
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Charles A. Wilson
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Steve Austria
[email protected] [email protected]
8 John A.
Boehner [email protected] [email protected]
9
Marcy Kaptur [email protected] [email protected]
10 Dennis
J. Kucinich [email protected] [email protected]
11 Marcia
L. Fudge [email protected] [email protected]
12 Patrick
J. Tiberi [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Betty Sutton
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Steven C.
LaTourette [email protected] [email protected]
15 Mary Jo
Kilroy [email protected] [email protected]
16
John A. Boccieri [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Tim Ryan [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Zachary T. Space
[email protected] [email protected]
OKLAHOMA
1
John Sullivan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Dan Boren [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Frank D. Lucas
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Cole
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Mary Fallin
[email protected] [email protected]
OREGON
1
David Wu [email protected] [email protected]
2 Greg
Walden [email protected] [email protected]
3 Earl
Blumenauer [email protected] [email protected]
4 Peter
A. DeFazio [email protected] [email protected]
5 Kurt Schrader
[email protected] [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
1
Robert A. Brady [email protected] [email protected]
2
Chaka Fattah [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Kathleen A. Dahlkemper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jason Altmire
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Glenn Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jim Gerlach
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Joe Sestak
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Patrick J. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Bill Shuster
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Christopher P.
Carney [email protected] [email protected]
11 Paul E.
Kanjorski [email protected] [email protected]
12 Mark
S. Critz (vacant) (vacant)
13 Allyson Y. Schwartz
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Michael F. Doyle
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles W. Dent
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Joseph R.
Pitts [email protected] [email protected]
17 Tim
Holden [email protected] [email protected]
18 Tim
Murphy [email protected] [email protected]
19 Todd
Russell Platts [email protected]
[email protected]
PUERTO RICO
Delegate Pedro R.
Pierluisi [email protected]
[email protected]
RHODE ISLAND
1 Patrick J. Kennedy
[email protected] [email protected]
2 James R. Langevin
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA
1 Henry E. Brown Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Wilson [email protected]
[email protected]
3 J. Gresham Barrett
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Bob Inglis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 John M. Spratt Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
6 James E. Clyburn
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH
DAKOTA
At Large Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [email protected]
[email protected]
TENNESSEE
1 David P. Roe
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John J. Duncan Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Zach Wamp
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Lincoln Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Jim Cooper
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Bart Gordon
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Marsha
Blackburn [email protected] [email protected]
8 John
S. Tanner [email protected] [email protected]
9 Steve
Cohen [email protected] [email protected]
TEXAS
1 Louie Gohmert [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Ted Poe [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Sam Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ralph M. Hall [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Jeb Hensarling [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Joe Barton [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Abney Culberson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Kevin Brady
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Al Green
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Michael T.
McCaul [email protected] [email protected]
11 K. Michael
Conaway [email protected] [email protected]
12 Kay
Granger [email protected] [email protected]
13 Mac
Thornberry [email protected] [email protected]
14 Ron
Paul [email protected] [email protected]
15 Rubén
Hinojosa [email protected] [email protected]
16
Silvestre Reyes [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Chet Edwards
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Sheila
Jackson Lee [email protected] [email protected]
19 Randy
Neugebauer [email protected] [email protected]
20
Charles A. Gonzalez [email protected] [email protected]
21
Lamar Smith [email protected] [email protected]
22
Pete Olson [email protected] [email protected]
23
Ciro D. Rodriguez [email protected] [email protected]
24
Kenny Marchant [email protected]
[email protected]
25 Lloyd Doggett
[email protected] [email protected]
26
Michael C. Burgess [email protected] ?
27 Solomon P. Ortiz
[email protected] [email protected]
28 Henry Cuellar
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Gene Green
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Eddie
Bernice Johnson [email protected] ?
31 John R. Carter
[email protected] [email protected]
32 Pete Sessions
[email protected] [email protected]
UTAH
1 Rob
Bishop [email protected] [email protected]
2 Jim
Matheson [email protected] [email protected]
3 Jason
Chaffetz [email protected] [email protected]
VERMONT
At Large Peter Welch [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Delegate Donna M.
Christensen [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGINIA
1 Robert J. Wittman
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Glenn C. Nye
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Robert C.
"Bobby'' Scott [email protected] [email protected]
4 J.
Randy Forbes [email protected] [email protected]
5
Thomas S. P. Perriello [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Bob Goodlatte [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Eric Cantor [email protected]
[email protected]
8 James P. Moran [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Rick Boucher [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Frank R. Wolf [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Gerald E. Connolly
[email protected] [email protected]
WASHINGTON
1 Jay Inslee [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Rick Larsen [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Brian Baird [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Doc Hastings [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Norman D. Dicks
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Jim McDermott
[email protected] [email protected]
8 David G. Reichert
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Adam Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA
1 Alan B. Mollohan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Shelley Moore Capito
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Nick J. Rahall II
[email protected] [email protected]
WISCONSIN
1 Paul
Ryan [email protected] [email protected]
2 Tammy
Baldwin [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ron Kind
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gwen Moore
[email protected] [email protected]
5 F. James
Sensenbrenner Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
6
Thomas E. Petri [email protected]
[email protected]
7 David R. Obey
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Steve Kagen
? ?
WYOMING
At Large Cynthia M. Lummis [email protected]
[email protected]
---------------------------------------
Thanks
to the herculean efforts of the coalition of patients, therapists, advocates,
educators, and
industry professionals who went to Washington DC
this week to speak to Congressional
Representatives and Senators
about supporting H.R. 4662, the bill now has six new co-sponsors,
bringing to total to 20 with more expected in the next few weeks! We
are definitely gaining momentum.
If you have not already done so,
please contact your Representative and Senators to urge support for
the bill. You may find more information about the bill and how to
contact your legislators at:
http://www.nortonschool.com/hr4662.html
Thank
you!
----------------------------
Our trip to DC last week
was outstanding! Over the course of two days 10 advocates from around the
country met with over 30 individual offices and conducted a staff
briefing with an impressive 32
attendees. My sincerest thanks to
all of you who were persistent in your efforts to ensure your
Representative’s office sent a staff member.
Now is the time
to maximize the effectiveness of our efforts on this trip. We already have 7
more co-
sponsors as a direct result of our visit! That puts us at
22 co-sponsors to date (see list at end of
message.) Please make
every effort to follow up with your Representative's office as described below
as soon as possible.
If you are receiving this by forward,
blog post, etc, and the attachment is missing, please let me know so
that
I can send it to you directly. Thank you so much – Heather Ferguson,
[email protected].
What you need to do next:
Please call your
Representative’s DC office – you can look up the number at
http://clerk.house.
gov/member_info/index.html.
Express
your desire that they sign on to co-sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema Diagnosis
and
Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010. Ask if they had a staff
member at the briefing on Wednesday,
May 26th, and if they did not
offer to send them additional information. Ask for an email address so
that you may send them the packet which was given to all briefing
attendees – that is the attached PDF
file. Since the packet is 33
pages it would not be practical to print and send it by fax or US mail, plus,
once you have an email address it will make all of your future
correspondence much easier. You can
also include this link -
http://www.nortonschool.com/video/discoveryhealth/broadband.html - which is a
video clip that was shown at the briefing. When it comes to
lymphedema a picture really is worth 1000
words!
If you are
unable to obtain an email address by calling let me know ([email protected])
and I will get
one for you.
Co-sponsors as of May
31st:
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 5/27/2010
Rep Bishop, Sanford
D., Jr. [GA-2] - 4/29/2010
Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 5/28/2010
Rep
Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 4/27/2010
Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] -
4/13/2010
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 5/12/2010
Rep Doggett, Lloyd
[TX-25] - 4/21/2010
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 5/27/2010
Rep Frank,
Barney [MA-4] - 4/13/2010
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 4/13/2010
Rep
Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 4/13/2010
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] -
5/27/2010
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 4/27/2010
Rep McCollum, Betty
[MN-4] - 5/27/2010
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 5/4/2010
Rep Norton,
Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 4/27/2010
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/2/2010
Rep
Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] - 5/28/2010
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] -
3/12/2010
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 5/18/2010
Rep
Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 5/27/2010
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
[FL-20] -
5/12/2010
---------------------------------------
Greetings
- I am pleased to inform you that we have picked up 5 more co-sponsors since my
last
update two weeks ago, bringing us to a total of 27!
But
we will need many, many more to get this bill moved through Congress. Unless
your
Representative is one of the 27 you must continue to urge
him/her to sign on as a co-sponsor of this
legislation.
I
have spent the last two weeks compiling the email address for every Health
Legislative Aide and Chief
of Staff (see below) so now it will be
extremely easy for you to directly contact the person you need to
speak to!
Even if you have already contacted your
Representative's office, unless you have spoken directly with
the
one of these staff members, you should contact their office again using this
information. If you find
that an address fails please let me know
so that I can correct it.
What you need to do:
•Send your email
to both the Health Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff
•State your desire
that your Representative sign on to co-sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010. Explain why they
should support the bill and how
this legislation is of significance
to you personally. The letter should be somewhat brief, to the point,
polite and professional. Conclude my making it clear you anticipate
receiving a response to your inquiry.
•You should attach the informational
packet attached to this email and explain that it was given to the
attendees of the staff briefing held Wednesday, May 26th. You can also
include this link - http://www.
nortonschool.com/video/discoveryhealth/broadband.html - which is a video
clip that was shown at the
briefing.
If you are receiving this
by forward, blog post, etc, and the attachment or chart with email information
is
missing, please let me know so that I can send it to you
directly. If you would like to be added to or
removed from my
contact list also just let me know.
Thank you so much – Heather
Ferguson, [email protected].
District Representative
(names in blue have co-sponsored) Chief of
Staff
(FirstName.LastName@...) Health
Legislative
Aide
(FirstName.LastName@...)
ALABAMA
1 Jo Bonner
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bobby Bright
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
4
Robert B. Aderholt [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Parker Griffith
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Spencer
Bachus [email protected] [email protected]
7
Artur Davis [email protected] [email protected]
ALASKA
At Large Don Young [email protected]
[email protected]
AMERICAN SAMOA
Delegate Eni F. H.
Faleomavaega [email protected] [email protected]
ARIZONA
1 Ann Kirkpatrick [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Trent Franks [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John B. Shadegg
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Ed Pastor
(vacant) [email protected]
5 Harry E. Mitchell
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jeff Flake
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Raúl M.
Grijalva [email protected] [email protected]
8
Gabrielle Giffords [email protected]
[email protected]
ARKANSAS
1 Marion Berry
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Vic Snyder
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John Boozman
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Mike Ross
[email protected] [email protected]
CALIFORNIA
1
Mike Thompson [email protected] [email protected]
2
Wally Herger [email protected] [email protected]
3
Daniel E. Lungren [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Tom McClintock [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Doris O. Matsui [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Lynn C. Woolsey [email protected]
[email protected]
7 George Miller [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Nancy Pelosi [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Barbara Lee [email protected]
[email protected]
10 John Garamendi [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Jerry McNerney [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Jackie Speier [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Fortney Pete Stark [email protected]
[email protected]
14 Anna G. Eshoo [email protected]
[email protected]
15 Michael M. Honda
[email protected] [email protected]
16
Zoe Lofgren [email protected] [email protected]
17
Sam Farr [email protected] [email protected]
18 Dennis A. Cardoza [email protected]
[email protected]
19 George Radanovich [email protected]
[email protected]
20 Jim Costa [email protected]
[email protected]
21 Devin Nunes
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Kevin McCarthy
[email protected] [email protected]
23 Lois Capps
[email protected] [email protected]
24 Elton Gallegly
[email protected] [email protected]
25 Howard P.
"Buck'' McKeon [email protected] [email protected]
26
David Dreier [email protected] [email protected]
27
Brad Sherman [email protected] [email protected]
28
Howard L. Berman [email protected]
[email protected]
29 Adam B. Schiff
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Henry A.
Waxman [email protected] [email protected]
31 Xavier
Becerra [email protected] [email protected]
32 Judy Chu
[email protected] [email protected]
33 Diane E. Watson
[email protected] [email protected]
34 Lucille
Roybal-Allard [email protected] [email protected]
35
Maxine Waters [email protected]
[email protected]
36 Jane Harman [email protected]
[email protected]
37 Laura Richardson
[email protected] [email protected]
38 Grace F.
Napolitano [email protected] [email protected]
39 Linda T.
Sánchez [email protected] [email protected]
40 Edward
R. Royce [email protected] [email protected]
41 Jerry Lewis
[email protected] [email protected]
42 Gary G.
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
43 Joe Baca
[email protected] [email protected]
44 Ken Calvert
[email protected] [email protected]
45 Mary Bono
Mack [email protected] [email protected]
46 Dana
Rohrabacher [email protected]
[email protected]
47 Loretta Sanchez
[email protected] [email protected]
48 John
Campbell [email protected] [email protected]
49 Darrell
E. Issa [email protected] [email protected]
50 Brian
P. Bilbray [email protected] [email protected]
51 Bob
Filner [email protected] [email protected]
52 Duncan
Hunter [email protected] [email protected]
53 Susan A.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
COLORADO
1 Diana DeGette [email protected] [email protected];
Kerry.Bolger@mail.
house.gov
2 Jared Polis
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John T. Salazar
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betsy Markey
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Doug Lamborn
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Mike Coffman
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Ed Perlmutter
[email protected] [email protected]
CONNECTICUT
1 John B. Larson [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Courtney [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Rosa L. DeLauro [email protected]
[email protected]
4 James A. Himes [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Christopher S. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
DELAWARE
At Large Michael N. Castle [email protected]
[email protected]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton [email protected] [email protected]
FLORIDA
1 Jeff Miller [email protected] [email protected]
2
Allen Boyd [email protected] [email protected]
3
Corrine Brown [email protected] [email protected]
4
Ander Crenshaw [email protected] [email protected]
5
Ginny Brown-Waite [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Cliff Stearns [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John L. Mica [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Alan Grayson [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Gus M. Bilirakis [email protected]
[email protected]
10 C. W. Bill Young [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Kathy Castor [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Adam H. Putnam [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Vern Buchanan
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Connie Mack
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Bill Posey
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Thomas J.
Rooney [email protected] [email protected]
17
Kendrick B. Meek [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
[email protected] [email protected]
19 Theodore E.
Deutch [email protected] [email protected]
20
Debbie Wasserman Schultz [email protected]
[email protected]
21 Lincoln Diaz-Balart
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Ron Klein
[email protected] [email protected]
23 Alcee L. Hastings
[email protected] [email protected]
24 Suzanne M. Kosmas
[email protected] [email protected]
25 Mario
Diaz-Balart [email protected]
[email protected]
GEORGIA
1 Jack Kingston
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Sanford D. Bishop
Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
3 Lynn A.
Westmoreland [email protected] [email protected]
4 Henry
C. "Hank'' Johnson Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
5 John Lewis [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Tom Price [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Linder [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jim Marshall [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Nathan Deal [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Paul C. Broun
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Phil Gingrey
[email protected] [email protected]
12 John Barrow
[email protected] [email protected]
13 David Scott
[email protected] [email protected]
GUAM
Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo [email protected]
[email protected]
HAWAII
1 Charles K. Djou
2
Mazie K. Hirono [email protected]
[email protected]
IDAHO
1 Walt Minnick
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael K. Simpson
[email protected] [email protected]
ILLINOIS
1
Bobby L. Rush [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel
Lipinski [email protected] [email protected]
4 Luis V.
Gutierrez [email protected] [email protected]
5 Mike
Quigley 1 [email protected] [email protected]
6 Peter J.
Roskam [email protected] [email protected]
7 Danny K.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
8 Melissa L.
Bean [email protected] [email protected]
9 Janice
D. Schakowsky [email protected] [email protected]
10
Mark Steven Kirk [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Deborah L. Halvorson
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Jerry F.
Costello [email protected] [email protected]
13
Judy Biggert [email protected] [email protected]
14
Bill Foster [email protected] [email protected]
15
Timothy V. Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Donald A. Manzullo
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Phil Hare
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Aaron Schock
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John Shimkus
[email protected] [email protected]
INDIANA
1
Peter J. Visclosky [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Donnelly [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mark E. Souder [email protected]
Kristin@[email protected]
4 Steve Buyer [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Dan Burton [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Mike Pence [email protected]
[email protected]
7 André Carson [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Brad Ellsworth [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Baron P. Hill [email protected]
[email protected]
IOWA
1 Bruce L. Braley
[email protected] [email protected]
2 David Loebsack
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Leonard L.
Boswell [email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Latham
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Steve King
[email protected] [email protected]
KANSAS
1
Jerry Moran [email protected] [email protected]
2
Lynn Jenkins [email protected] [email protected]
3
Dennis Moore [email protected] [email protected]
4
Todd Tiahrt [email protected]
[email protected]
KENTUCKY
1 Ed Whitfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Brett Guthrie
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John A. Yarmuth
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Geoff Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Harold
Rogers [email protected] [email protected]
6 Ben Chandler
[email protected] [email protected]
LOUISIANA
1
Steve Scalise [email protected] [email protected]
2 Anh
"Joseph'' Cao [email protected] [email protected]
3
Charlie Melancon [email protected] [email protected]
4
John Fleming [email protected] [email protected]
5
Rodney Alexander [email protected] [email protected]
6
Bill Cassidy [email protected] [email protected]
7
Charles W. Boustany Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
MAINE
1 Chellie Pingree
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael H.
Michaud [email protected] [email protected]
MARYLAND
1 Frank Kratovil Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John P.
Sarbanes [email protected] [email protected]
4 Donna
F. Edwards [email protected] [email protected]
5
Steny H. Hoyer [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Roscoe G. Bartlett
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Elijah E. Cummings
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Chris Van
Hollen [email protected] [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
1 John W. Olver [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Richard E. Neal [email protected]
[email protected]
3 James P. McGovern
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Barney
Frank [email protected]; Maria.Giesta@@mail.house.gov
Diego.Sanchez@mail.
house.gov
5 Niki Tsongas
[email protected] [email protected]
6 John
F. Tierney [email protected] [email protected]
7 Edward
J. Markey [email protected] [email protected]
8 Michael E.
Capuano [email protected] [email protected]
9 Stephen
F. Lynch [email protected] [email protected]
10 Bill
Delahunt [email protected] [email protected]
MICHIGAN
1 Bart Stupak [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Peter Hoekstra
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Vernon J.
Ehlers [email protected] [email protected]
4 Dave Camp
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Dale E. Kildee
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Fred Upton
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mark H. Schauer
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gary C. Peters
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Candice S. Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Thaddeus G. McCotter
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Sander M. Levin
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick [email protected] [email protected]
14 John
Conyers Jr. [email protected] [email protected];
Joel.
[email protected]
15 John D. Dingell
[email protected] [email protected]
MINNESOTA
1
Timothy J. Walz [email protected] [email protected]
2
John Kline [email protected] [email protected]
3 Erik
Paulsen [email protected] [email protected]
4
Betty McCollum [email protected] [email protected]
5
Keith Ellison [email protected] [email protected]
6 Michele
Bachmann [email protected] [email protected]
7 Collin C.
Peterson [email protected] [email protected]
8 James
L. Oberstar [email protected]
[email protected]
MISSISSIPPI
1 Travis W. Childers
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bennie G. Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Gregg Harper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gene Taylor
[email protected] [email protected]
MISSOURI
1
Wm. Lacy Clay [email protected]
[email protected]
2 W. Todd Akin [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Russ Carnahan [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ike Skelton [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Emanuel Cleaver [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Sam Graves [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Roy Blunt [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jo Ann Emerson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Blaine
Luetkemeyer [email protected]
[email protected]
MONTANA
At Large Denny Rehberg
[email protected] [email protected]
NEBRASKA
1 Jeff
Fortenberry [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Lee Terry [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Adrian Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
NEVADA
1 Shelley Berkley
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Dean Heller
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Dina Titus
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1
Carol Shea-Porter [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Paul W. Hodes [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW JERSEY
1 Robert E. Andrews
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Frank A. LoBiondo
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John H. Adler
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Christopher H. Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Scott Garrett
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Frank Pallone Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Leonard Lance
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Bill Pascrell Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Steven R. Rothman
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Donald M. Payne
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen [email protected] [email protected]
12
Rush D. Holt [email protected] [email protected]
13
Albio Sires [email protected] [email protected]
NEW
MEXICO
1 Martin Heinrich [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Harry Teague [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Ben Ray Luján [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW YORK
1 Timothy H. Bishop
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Steve Israel
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Peter T. King
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Carolyn
McCarthy [email protected] [email protected]
5 Gary
L. Ackerman [email protected] [email protected]
6
Gregory W. Meeks [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Joseph Crowley [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jerrold Nadler [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Anthony D. Weiner [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Edolphus Towns [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Yvette D. Clarke (vacant)
[email protected]
12 Nydia M. Velázquez
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Michael E. McMahon
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Carolyn
B. Maloney [email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles
B. Rangel [email protected] [email protected]
16 José E.
Serrano [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Eliot L. Engel [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Nita M. Lowey
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John J. Hall
[email protected] [email protected]
20 Scott Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Paul Tonko
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Maurice D.
Hinchey [email protected] [email protected]
23 William
L. Owens [email protected] [email protected]
24 Michael
A. Arcuri [email protected] [email protected]
25 Daniel
B. Maffei [email protected] [email protected]
26
Christopher John Lee [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Brian Higgins [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Louise McIntosh Slaughter
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Eric J. J. Massa
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
1
G. K. Butterfield [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Bob Etheridge [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Walter B. Jones
[email protected] [email protected]
4 David E. Price
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Virginia Foxx
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Howard Coble
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mike McIntyre
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Larry Kissell
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Sue Wilkins
Myrick [email protected] [email protected]
10 Patrick T.
McHenry [email protected] [email protected]
11 Heath
Shuler [email protected] [email protected]
12 Melvin L.
Watt [email protected] [email protected]
13 Brad Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA
At Large Earl Pomeroy [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Delegate
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [email protected]
[email protected].
gov
OHIO
1 Steve Driehaus
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jean Schmidt
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Michael R. Turner
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jim Jordan
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Robert E. Latta
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Charles A. Wilson
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Steve Austria
[email protected] [email protected]
8 John A.
Boehner [email protected] [email protected]
9
Marcy Kaptur [email protected] [email protected]
10 Dennis
J. Kucinich [email protected] [email protected]
11 Marcia
L. Fudge [email protected] [email protected]
12 Patrick
J. Tiberi [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Betty Sutton
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Steven C.
LaTourette [email protected] [email protected]
15 Mary Jo
Kilroy [email protected] [email protected]
16
John A. Boccieri [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Tim Ryan [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Zachary T. Space
[email protected] [email protected]
OKLAHOMA
1
John Sullivan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Dan Boren [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Frank D. Lucas
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Cole
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Mary Fallin
[email protected] [email protected]
OREGON
1
David Wu [email protected] [email protected]
2 Greg
Walden [email protected] [email protected]
3 Earl
Blumenauer [email protected] [email protected]
4 Peter
A. DeFazio [email protected] [email protected]
5 Kurt Schrader
[email protected] [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
1
Robert A. Brady [email protected] [email protected]
2
Chaka Fattah [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Kathleen A. Dahlkemper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jason Altmire
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Glenn Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jim Gerlach
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Joe Sestak
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Patrick J. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Bill Shuster
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Christopher P.
Carney [email protected] [email protected]
11 Paul E.
Kanjorski [email protected] [email protected]
12 Mark
S. Critz (vacant) (vacant)
13 Allyson Y. Schwartz
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Michael F. Doyle
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles W. Dent
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Joseph R.
Pitts [email protected] [email protected]
17 Tim
Holden [email protected] [email protected]
18 Tim
Murphy [email protected] [email protected]
19 Todd
Russell Platts [email protected]
[email protected]
PUERTO RICO
Delegate Pedro R.
Pierluisi [email protected]
[email protected]
RHODE ISLAND
1 Patrick J. Kennedy
[email protected] [email protected]
2 James R. Langevin
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA
1 Henry E. Brown Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Wilson [email protected]
[email protected]
3 J. Gresham Barrett
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Bob Inglis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 John M. Spratt Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
6 James E. Clyburn
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH
DAKOTA
At Large Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [email protected]
[email protected]
TENNESSEE
1 David P. Roe
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John J. Duncan Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Zach Wamp
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Lincoln Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Jim Cooper
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Bart Gordon
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Marsha
Blackburn [email protected] [email protected]
8 John
S. Tanner [email protected] [email protected]
9 Steve
Cohen [email protected] [email protected]
TEXAS
1 Louie Gohmert [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Ted Poe [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Sam Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ralph M. Hall [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Jeb Hensarling [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Joe Barton [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Abney Culberson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Kevin Brady
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Al Green
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Michael T.
McCaul [email protected] [email protected]
11 K. Michael
Conaway [email protected] [email protected]
12 Kay
Granger [email protected] [email protected]
13 Mac
Thornberry [email protected] [email protected]
14 Ron
Paul [email protected] [email protected]
15 Rubén
Hinojosa [email protected] [email protected]
16
Silvestre Reyes [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Chet Edwards
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Sheila
Jackson Lee [email protected] [email protected]
19 Randy
Neugebauer [email protected] [email protected]
20
Charles A. Gonzalez [email protected] [email protected]
21
Lamar Smith [email protected] [email protected]
22
Pete Olson [email protected] [email protected]
23
Ciro D. Rodriguez [email protected] [email protected]
24
Kenny Marchant [email protected]
[email protected]
25 Lloyd Doggett
[email protected] [email protected]
26
Michael C. Burgess [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Solomon P. Ortiz
[email protected] [email protected]
28 Henry Cuellar
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Gene Green
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Eddie
Bernice Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
31 John R. Carter [email protected]
[email protected]
32 Pete Sessions [email protected]
[email protected]
UTAH
1 Rob Bishop
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jim Matheson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Jason Chaffetz
[email protected] [email protected]
VERMONT
At
Large Peter Welch [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Delegate Donna M.
Christensen [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGINIA
1 Robert J. Wittman
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Glenn C. Nye
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Robert C.
"Bobby'' Scott [email protected] [email protected]
4 J.
Randy Forbes [email protected] [email protected]
5
Thomas S. P. Perriello [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Bob Goodlatte [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Eric Cantor [email protected]
[email protected]
8 James P. Moran [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Rick Boucher [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Frank R. Wolf [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Gerald E. Connolly
[email protected] [email protected]
WASHINGTON
1 Jay Inslee [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Rick Larsen [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Brian Baird [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Doc Hastings [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Norman D. Dicks
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Jim McDermott
[email protected] [email protected]
8 David G. Reichert
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Adam Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA
1 Alan B. Mollohan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Shelley Moore Capito
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Nick J. Rahall II
[email protected] [email protected]
WISCONSIN
1 Paul
Ryan [email protected] [email protected]
2 Tammy
Baldwin [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ron Kind
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gwen Moore
[email protected] [email protected]
5 F. James
Sensenbrenner Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
6
Thomas E. Petri [email protected]
[email protected]
7 David R. Obey
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Steve Kagen
[email protected] [email protected]
WYOMING
At
Large Cynthia M. Lummis [email protected]
[email protected]
LYMPHLAND
INTERVIEW WITH HEATHER FERGUSON
Tell me about
Dylan, how did you find out he had lymphedema and what kinds of tests and
doctors did
you see? Did you get a runaround or was he diagnosed
right away?
Dylan
had just a bit of swelling at birth but not enough for anyone to think anything
of it. But by two
months of age he had pitting edema in his legs
and feet and was admitted to the hospital with his
pediatrician
fearing the worst - congestive heart failure. Three days in-patient and every
test known turn
man turned up nothing and it would be another month
before Dylan was diagnosed with lymphedema
and a month after that he
began treatment. After hearing many other patients horror stories of not being
properly diagnosed for years I know that Dylan is very lucky,
although at the time it felt like it took
painfully long time to be
diagnosed and begin treatment.
What happened
when you found out the cost of treating his
lymphedema?
Thankfully
the insurance company we had the first year of Dylan's life covered everything
with no
problem. I don't know how I would have survived that year
otherwise. Our problems began when my
husband's employer switch
insurance companies. Thankfully, when I could not reverse the denials with
that company we still managed to pay out of pocket to get Dylan what he
needed. But in the bright side
it was that experience that started
me down this path of advocacy, so I believe it was a hardship we
were meant to endure. I certainly wouldn't have the drive I do today
had I not had that firsthand
experience.
How does Dylan feel about what is
happening with mom fighting for coverage?
I don't think Dylan, or his twin
brother Devdan, have any understanding of what I am doing and why and
I
am glad for that
What
was the first meeting with your legislature like, did she show interest or sort
of say, ok yeah we'll
see what we can do and did you have to push
to get noticed?
I
am so blessed that when I first reached out for help I immediately had a
receptive ear. Within an hour
of emailing State Representative
Cotham she personally called me. She was immediately willing to help
in
any way she could and I know even more so now that not every elected official
is so responsive and
committed to serving their constituents and
the greater good. I can't help but sing the praises of this
wonderful woman who is a true public
servant!
Did
it make you angry there was no coverage and how did you decide to tackle the
issue further?
Yes,
it definitely made me angry. I have never been a person to keep quiet and sulk
when confronted
with an injustice. I was not willing to just
except the situation, especially since it was my child’s life who
would be impacted, more so than mine, by this lack of coverage. Bob
Weiss and I have talked about
how we got started on this path in
very similar ways. Had our insurance companies just done the right
thing by us that would have been the end of it. But instead they said
no to the wrong people and here
we are
today!
After
winning coverage in NC, what made you decide to push further for all
patients?
Nationwide
coverage has always been my goal. My son and all people with LE should be able
to live
anywhere in this country and have
coverage.
How
do you think you managed to get further than a lot of the advocates who have
worked for years for
coverage?
Sheer determination! When your
child's quality of life and maybe his very life are on the line that is the
most powerful motivation there is. I always try to impress upon other
people that I had no special skills
or life experience to get me
here. I am just an average person who is not willing to give up or take no for
an answer.
What is your ultimate
goal?
Nationwide
comprehensive LE treatment coverage. Then I, and I hope other advocates like
me, can
turn their time and energy to supporting research. I
believe that in my son’s lifetime his LE will no longer
be
idiopathic and that new and better treatments and maybe even a cure will be
discovered.
Tell
me a little about Dylan, how does he live with lymphedema? How is he taking
the condition?
Adults
with LE often express sympathy that Dylan has to deal with this as a child, but
I am absolutely
certain it is easier to grow up knowing no
different. Dylan is a completely happy, normal and in all other
ways healthy little boy.
New York State Lymphatic Disease
Bill Signed
Assembly Bill A05320A Alan Maisel/ S00629A Charles
Fuschillo, originally introduced in 2007, was
passed by the NYS
Legislature on July 19, and signed into law by Governor Patterson on July 30,
2010. This law amends the New York State Public Health Law to add
children under the age of 21 who
are disabled from lymphedema,
lipodema, lymphatic disease and vascular/lymphatic malformations to the
definition of "children with physical disabilities", thereby requiring
the State to provide medical service for
their treatment and
rehabilitation. Medical service includes "such diagnostic, therapeutic, and
rehabilitative care by medical and paramedical personnel, including
hospital and related care, and drugs,
prostheses, appliances,
equipment and devices as necessary."[PHL Article 25,Title 5,
§2580-4]
The new law also adds the requirement for the Department of
Health to provide information on
lymphatic disease as well as
lymphedema to the health care and wellness education and outreach
program. The new law specifically requires electronic links from the
Department's web sites to the NLN
and LRF web sites. [PHL Article
2, Title 1, §207(c)]
111TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION H. R. 4662
To amend title XVIII of the
Social Security Act to improve the diagnosis
and treatment of lymphedema
under the Medicare Program and to reduce
costs under such program related to
the treatment of complications
of lymphedema, and for other purposes.
IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
Mr. KISSELL introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce,
and in addition to the Committee on
Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of
such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to
improve
the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema under the
Medicare
Program and to reduce costs under such program
related to the treatment of
complications of
lymphedema, and for other purposes.
1 Be it enacted by
the Senate and House of Representa2
tives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as
the ‘‘Lymphedema Diag5
nosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010’’.
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1 SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND
2
TREATMENT SERVICES UNDER MEDICARE.
3 (a) COVERAGE OF SERVICES.—Section 1861
of the
4 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended--
5 (1) in
subsection (s)(2)--
6 (A) in subparagraph (DD), by striking
7 ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
8 (B) in subparagraph (EE), by adding
9 ‘‘and’’ at the end;
and
10 (C) by adding at the end the following new
11 subparagraph:
12
‘‘(FF) lymphedema compression treatment
13 items (as described in subsection
(iii)) and
14 lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services
15 (as described
in subsection (hhh)) if such serv16
ices are prescribed by and reviewed by a
treat17
ing physician and performed by such physician
18 or--
19 ‘‘(i) a
physical therapist or an occupa20
tional therapist who meets the quality
re21
quirements of subsection (hhh)(2)(C);
22 ‘‘(ii) a qualified
professional, such as
23 a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical
24
nurse specialist, chiropractor, or physi25
cian’s assistant who is licensed
or certified
26 by the State in which the services are per-
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1 formed to perform therapy services and
2 who meets the quality
requirements of
3 (hhh)(2)(C); or
4 ‘‘(iii) a qualified person, such as
a
5 physical therapist assistant, occupational
6 therapy assistant,
licensed massage thera7
pist, licensed practical nurse, or licensed
8 home
health practitioner who meets the
9 quality requirements of (hhh)(2)(C)
pro10
viding such services are rendered under the
11 direct supervision of
a physical therapist or
12 occupational therapist qualified in
13
lymphedema treatment and management
14 who meets the quality requirements
of
15 (hhh)(2)(C).’’; and
16 (2) by adding at the end the following new
sub17
sections:
18 ‘‘(hhh) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
19
SERVICES.—(1) The term ‘lymphedema diagnosis and
20 treatment services’
means, with respect to an individual
21 and consistent with paragraph (3),
differential diagnosis
22 and treatment of lymphedema (regardless of cause)
ac23
cording to the current standard of lymphedema diagnosis
24 and
treatment described in paragraph (2)(A) by, or under
25 the direction of, a
health care professional that is a cer-
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1 tified
provider as described in paragraph (2)(B) in an out2
patient setting and that
meets the quality standards de3
scribed in paragraph (2)(C), but only if the
physician who
4 is managing the individual’s lymphedema certifies that
5
such services are needed under a comprehensive plan of
6 care related to the
individual’s diagnosed lymphedema.
7 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph
(1):
8 ‘‘(A) The current standard of lymphedema di9
agnosis and treatment
described in this subpara10
graph is such standard as defined by the
American
11 Cancer Society and the International Society of
12 Lymphology
and called ‘complex decongestive ther13
apy’, a multi-modal therapy
comprising manual
14 lymph drainage, compression therapy, exercise, and
15
skin care. Such standard consists of the initial phase
16 of treatment which
is performed by qualified health
17 care professionals on an outpatient basis
(Phase 1
18 treatment) and the continuing maintenance phase
19 (Phase 2
treatment) which is performed in a home
20 setting by the patient, patient’s
family, or patient’s
21 aide after receiving instruction described in
para22
graph (5).
23 ‘‘(B) A qualified provider is a physician or
24
lymphedema therapist knowledgeable of the diag25
nosis and current medical
standard of treatment of
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1 lymphedema, or any other
individual or entity des2
ignated by the Secretary, that, in addition to
pro3
viding lymphedema outpatient self-management
4 training services (as
defined in paragraph
5 (3)(C)(iii)), provides other items or services
for
6 which payment may be made under this title.
7 ‘‘(C)(i) Subject to
clause (ii), the quality stand8
ards described in this subparagraph are
quality
9 standards established by the Secretary equivalent to
10 the
practice standards established by the
11 Lymphology Association of North
America.
12 ‘‘(ii) In applying this subsection during the 3-
13 year
period beginning on the date of the enactment
14 of this subsection, a
therapist who has completed at
15 least 135 hours of lymphedema treatment
training
16 and is certified by the training school is deemed to
17 have
met the requirement of clause (i), and may
18 practice under a certified
provider within a plan of
19 care developed by the certified provider;
regardless
20 of whether the therapist meets the experience stand21
ards
established by the Lymphology Association of
22 North America.
23 ‘‘(D)
The term ‘lymphedema diagnosis’ means
24 the differential diagnosis of the
source of the pa25
tient’s edema and the identification of the
specific
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1 etiology in order to develop the lymphedema
treat2
ment plan. Such term shall include diagnostic tools
3 such as the
lymphoscintigraphic functional test or
4 other test the Secretary determines
to be efficatious
5 to directly observe lymphatic system function may be
6
indicated if medical history or tests to rule out other
7 causes are not
adequate to provide a clear positive
8 diagnosis of lymphedema.
9 ‘‘(3)
COVERAGE.—With respect to lymphedema diag10
nosis and treatment services
coverage under this part, the
11 following shall apply:
12 ‘‘(A) MANUAL
LYMPH DRAINAGE.--
13 ‘‘(i) Lymphedema diagnosis and treatment
14 services
coverage under this part shall include
15 an initial course of manual lymph
drainage as
16 part of complete decongestive therapy (Phase 1)
17 when
medically required by the qualified pro18
vider described in paragraph
(2)(B).
19 ‘‘(ii) The schedule and number of manual
20 lymph drainage
treatment sessions shall be de21
termined by the treating physician or
22
lymphedema therapist as required by medical
23 necessity, and not the limits
governing rehabili24
tation therapy described in section 1833(g).
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1 ‘‘(B) COMPRESSION BINDING SYSTEMS, GAR2
MENTS AND DEVICES.--
3
‘‘(i) For purposes of this part, the mate4
rials and aids used in lymphedema
compression
5 therapy--
6 ‘‘(I) while physically resembling items
7 in
other benefit categories such as surgical
8 dressings, durable medical
equipment,
9 splints and braces, orthotics and pros10
thetics described in
subsections (s)(5),
11 (s)(6), and (s)(9), do not serve the same
12
medical function as such items in such
13 other categories and have
significantly dif14
ferent therapeutic characteristics and uses;
15
and
16 ‘‘(II) are specified in subsection (iii)
17 as a separate benefit
category.
18 ‘‘(ii) Such coverage shall include any com19
pression
garments, binding systems and devices
20 described in subsection (iii) deemed
by the pa21
tient’s qualified caregiver to be medically nec22
essary as
part of the treatment of lymphedema.
23 ‘‘(iii) Such coverage shall include
replace24
ments when required to maintain their medi25
cally required
compressive function or to accom-
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1 modate changes
in the patient’s dimensions or
2 medical condition.
3 ‘‘(C) LYMPHEDEMA
SELF-MANAGEMENT TRAIN4
ING.--
5 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.--
6 ‘‘(I) The initial
course of treatment
7 (phase 1) described in paragraph (2)(A),
8 with
respect to such services, shall include
9 training of the patient and an aide
or fam10
ily member as required to perform self11
treatment in a home
setting, including any
12 of the following home treatment modalities
13
which are determined by the qualified pro14
vider to be medically required
and are a
15 part of the continuing maintenance phase
16 (phase 2) home
treatment plan described
17 in paragraph (2)(A):
18 ‘‘(aa) Self-manual
lymph drain19
age (simple lymph drainage).
20 ‘‘(bb) Compression
bandaging.
21 ‘‘(cc) Donning and care of com22
pression garments.
23
‘‘(dd) Performance of an appro24
priate decongestive exercise
program.
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1 ‘‘(ee) Use of specialized manually
2
adjustable compression devices, don3
ning aids, and other required
ancillary
4 equipment; and if medically indicated.
5 ‘‘(ff) Use of
sequential gradient
6 compression pneumatic pump.
7 ‘‘(II) As part of such
treatment, pa8
tient training shall include instruction on
9 periodic
self-measurements, skin care, indi10
cations of infection, and the steps to
be
11 taken if infection occurs.
12 ‘‘(III) The term ‘lymphedema
out13
patient self-management training services’
14 means educational and
training services
15 furnished to an individual diagnosed with
16
lymphedema by a certified provider (as de17
scribed in paragraph (2)(B)) in
an out18
patient setting but only if the physician
19 who is managing the
individual’s
20 lymphedema condition certifies that such
21 services are
needed under a comprehensive
22 plan of care related to the
individual’s
23 lymphedema condition.
24 ‘‘(ii) CONSULTATION WITH
ORGANIZATIONS
25 IN ESTABLISHING PAYMENT AMOUNTS FOR
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1 SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS.—In es2
tablishing payment
amounts under section 1848
3 for physicians’ services consisting of
4
lymphedema outpatient self-management train5
ing services, the Secretary
shall consult with
6 appropriate organizations, including such
orga7
nizations representing individuals or Medicare
8 beneficiaries with
lymphedema, in determining
9 the relative value for such services under
sec10
tion 1848(c)(2).
11 ‘‘(D) MEASUREMENTS TO DEFINE TREATMENT
12
EFFICACY.—Periodic measurements shall be made to
13 enable evaluation of the
efficacy of the treatment
14 plan and patient adherence, to modify the
treatment
15 plan or to determine the need for follow-up courses
16 of
treatment.
17 ‘‘(E) FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT.—Such coverage
18 shall provide
for follow-up treatments whenever
19 medically required to periodically
validate home tech20
niques, to monitor progress against the written
21
treatment plan, and to modify the treatment plan as
22 required.
23 ‘‘(F)
DENIAL.—No individual other than a li24
censed physician or certified
lymphedema therapist
25 competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues
in-
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1 volved in the care requested, may deny or modify
re2
quests for authorization of health care services or
3 materials
described in subsection (iii) pursuant to
4 this subsection.
5 ‘‘(G)
PROHIBITION OF ADDITIONAL TREAT6
MENT FEES.—No additional fees or deductibles
may
7 be assessed, with respect to such treatment, for com8
pliance with
this title other than assessed for similar
9 medical services.
10 ‘‘(iii)
LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION TREATMENT
11 ITEMS.--
12 ‘‘(1) DEFINITION.—The term
‘lymphedema
13 compression treatment item’ means compression
14 therapy
materials and supplies used daily in the
15 medical treatment of lymphedema
upon prescription
16 of the treating physician or therapist, including--
17
‘‘(A) compression binding systems com18
prising, as medically required,
short-stretch and
19 medium-stretch compression bandages; cotton,
20
synthetic, or foam padding; gauze or elastic fin21
ger and toe bandages; foam
pads; and tubular
22 bandages;
23 ‘‘(B) compression garments and
compres24
sion pads for compression treatment of
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1 lymphedematous arms, legs, torso, face and
2 neck, breast and
chest, abdomen, and genitalia;
3 ‘‘(C) manually-adjustable compression
4
sleeves and padded directional flow sleeves for
5 use on upper and lower
limbs;
6 ‘‘(D) orthotic shoes; and
7 ‘‘(E) donning aids, bandage rollers,
and
8 other specialized items used with the items de9
scribed in
subparagraphs (A) through (D).
10 ‘‘(2) SPECIAL REQUIREMENT ON
LYMPHEDEMA
11 PUMPS.—Such term shall include a pneumatic pump
12 for the
treatment of lymphedema only if the treating
13 physician or therapist’s
prescription for such pump
14 is accompanied by a certificate of medical
necessity
15 which specifies as a minimum--
16 ‘‘(A) the differential
diagnosis of
17 lymphedema and any related co-conditions such
18 as venous
insufficiency, peripheral arterial dis19
ease, lipedema, morbid obesity,
myxedema, and
20 any other condition which may be significant in
21 the
selection of a type, specification, and usage
22 of the pump; and
23 ‘‘(B)
the physician’s or therapist’s judge24
ment of the type and specifications of
the pump
25 based on the patient’s medical necessity.’’.
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1 (b) PAYMENT.--
2 (1) LYMPHEDEMA OUTPATIENT SELF-MANAGE3
MENT
TRAINING SERVICES INCLUDED AS PHYSI4
CIANS’ SERVICES.—Section 1861(s)(2)(S)
of such
5 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(S)) is amended by in6
serting ‘‘and
lymphedema outpatient self-manage7
ment training services under
subsection
8 (hhh)(3)(C)’’ after ‘‘subsection (qq))’’.
9 (2) LYMPHEDEMA
COMPRESSION TREATMENT
10 ITEMS.--
11 (A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(a)
of
12 such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)) is amended--
13 (i) in paragraph (8),
by striking at
14 the end ‘‘and’’;
15 (ii) in paragraph (9), by striking
at
16 the end the period and inserting a semi17
colon; and
18 (iii) by
adding at the end the fol19
lowing new paragraph:
20 ‘‘(10) in the case of
lymphedema compression
21 treatment items described in section 1861(iii),
the
22 amount determined under section 1834(n); and’’.
23 (B) PAYMENT
DETERMINED.—Section
24 1834 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is
amend-
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1 ed by adding at the end the following new
sub2
section:
3 ‘‘(n) PAYMENT FOR LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION
4 TREATMENT
ITEMS.--
5 ‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE FOR PAYMENT.--
6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—With
respect to a
7 lymphedema compression treatment item de8
scribed in
section 1861(iii) for which payment
9 is determined under this subsection,
subject to
10 subparagraph (D), payment shall be made in an
11 amount
equal to 80 percent of the payment
12 basis described in subparagraph
(B).
13 ‘‘(B) PAYMENT BASIS.—The payment
14 basis described in this
subparagraph, with re15
spect to a lymphedema compression treatment
16
item described in section 1861(iii), is the actual
17 charge for the
item.
18 ‘‘(C) EXCLUSIVE PAYMENT RULE FOR
19 HOME HEALTH AGENCIES.—This
subsection
20 shall constitute the exclusive provision of this
21 title
for payment for lymphedema compression
22 treatment items described in
section 1861(iii)
23 under this part or under part A to a home
24 health
agency.
25 ‘‘(D) EXCEPTIONS.--
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1 ‘‘(i)
Subparagraph (B) shall not apply
2 to an item furnished by a public home
3
health agency (or by another home health
4 agency which demonstrates to the
satisfac5
tion of the Secretary that a significant por6
tion of its
patients are low income) free of
7 charge or at nominal charges to the
public.
8 ‘‘(ii) Subparagraph (B) shall not
9 apply to items that are
furnished as an in10
cident to a physician’s professional service.
11
‘‘(2) SPECIAL PAYMENT RULES.--
12 ‘‘(A) ALLOWABLE ITEMS.—To be eligible
13
for payment under this subsection, an item de14
scribed in section 1861(iii)
must--
15 ‘‘(i) be ordered by a qualified physi16
cian or lymphedema
therapist for treat17
ment of diagnosed lymphedema;
18 ‘‘(ii) primarily
and customarily be
19 used to serve a medical purpose;
20 ‘‘(iii)
generally not be useful to a per21
son in the absence of an illness or
injury;
22 and
23 ‘‘(iv) be appropriate for use in the
24
home.
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1 ‘‘(B) ALLOWABLE QUANTITIES.—In the
2 case it
is determined by the qualified physician
3 or qualified lymphedema therapist
involved that
4 compression therapy demands daily compression
5 as part of
lymphedema treatment according to
6 section 1861(hhh)(1), then payment may
be
7 made in accordance with this subsection for the
8 following
quantities--
9 ‘‘(i) in the case of compression bind10
ing systems
described in section
11 1861(iii)(1)(A), 2 sets for each affected
12 body
part;
13 ‘‘(ii) in the case of compression gar14
ments described in
section 1861(iii)(1)(B),
15 2 garments for each affected body part;
16
‘‘(iii) in the case of compression de17
vices described in section
1861(iii)(1)(C), 1
18 each for each affected body part; and
19 ‘‘(iv) in
the case of compression ther20
apy aids described in section
21
1861(iii)(1)(D), as determined by the
22 qualified physician or
qualified
23 lymphedema therapist.
24 ‘‘(C) ALLOWABLE USE.—Payment may
be
25 made under this subsection for a lymphedema
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1 compression treatment item described in section
2 1861(iii) only
if such item--
3 ‘‘(i) is prescribed by a certified pro4
vider as defined
in section
5 1861(hhh)(2)(B);
6 ‘‘(ii) is used as part of a
lymphedema
7 treatment plan described in section
8 1861(hhh)(1);
9
‘‘(iii) is used by a patient who has
10 been instructed in lymphedema
self-man11
agement described in section
12 1861(hhh)(5); and
13 ‘‘(iv)
is used to treat a diagnosed con14
dition of chronic lymphedema.
15 ‘‘(D)
COMPRESSION RANGE.—The
16 lymphedema compression treatment items for
17
which payment may be made under this section
18 must provide a compression no
less than
19 30mmHg and no greater than 60mmHg.
20 ‘‘(E) QUALIFIED
FITTERS.—The
21 lymphedema compression treatment items for
22 which
payment may be made under this section
23 must be measured and fitted by a
qualified fit24
ter who is an individual who--
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1 ‘‘(i) is a qualified lymphedema thera2
pist, as defined in
section 1834(o)(2), who
3 meets the quality standards of section
4
1861(hhh)(2)(C);
5 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a State that pro6
vides for the
licensing of orthotists and
7 prosthetists, is licensed in orthotics or
8
prosthetics by the State in which the item
9 is supplied;
10 ‘‘(iii) in
the case of a State that does
11 not provide for the licensing of
orthotists
12 and prosthetists, is specifically trained and
13 educated to
provide or manage the provi14
sion of prosthetics and custom-designed
or
15 -fabricated orthotics, and is certified by the
16 American Board for
Certification in
17 Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. or by the
18 Board for
Orthotist/Prosthetist Certifi19
cation, or is credentialed and approved
by
20 a program that the Secretary determines,
21 in consultation with
appropriate experts in
22 orthotics and prosthetics, has training and
23
education standards that are necessary to
24 provide such prosthetics and
orthotics; or
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19
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1 ‘‘(iv) is certified by the qualified
man2
ufacturer of the item to be qualified to fit
3 the particular garment
or device.
4 ‘‘(F) REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLIERS OF
5 COMPRESSION THERAPY
ITEMS.—A supplier of
6 the lymphedema compression treatment items
7
described in this subsection must meet the re8
quirements of section 1834(j)
in order to re9
ceive payment under this subsection.
10 ‘‘(3) REPLACEMENT
OF COMPRESSION THERAPY
11 ITEMS.--
12 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Payment shall
be
13 made under this subsection, with respect to an
14 individual, for
the replacement of compression
15 bindings, compression garments, or
compression
16 devices if an ordering physician determines that
17 the
provision of a replacement item, or repair of
18 such an item, is necessary
because of any of the
19 following:
20 ‘‘(i) A change in the physiological
or
21 medical condition of the individual.
22 ‘‘(ii) A loss of required
compression of
23 the item that is not restorable by washing
24 and
drying.
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1 ‘‘(iii) An irreparable change in the
2
condition of the device, or in a part of the
3 device.
4 ‘‘(B) LENGTH OF
REASONABLE USEFUL
5 LIFETIME.—The reasonable useful lifetime of a
6
lymphedema compression treatment item de7
scribed in section 1861(iii) shall
be as follows,
8 except that, if the Secretary determines that, on
9 the
basis of prior experience in making pay10
ments for such an item under this
title, such
11 lifetimes are no longer appropriate with respect
12 to a
particular item, the Secretary shall estab13
lish an alternative reasonable
lifetime for such
14 item:
15 ‘‘(i) COMPRESSION BINDING KIT.—In
16 the
case of compression binding systems
17 described in section 1861(iii)(1)(A),
the
18 greater of 6 months or per manufacturer’s
19 warrantee.
20
‘‘(ii) COMPRESSION GARMENTS.—In
21 the case of compression garments
de22
scribed in section 1861(iii)(1)(B), the
23 greater of 4 months or per
manufacturer’s
24 warrantee.
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1 ‘‘(iii)
COMPRESSION DEVICES.—In the
2 case of compression devices described in
3
section 1861(iii)(1)(C), the greater of 3
4 years or per manufacturer’s
warrantee.
5 ‘‘(iv) AIDS.—In the case of compres6
sion therapy aids
described in section
7 1861(iii)(1)(D), as required to maintain
8
functional usefulness.’’.
9 (C) SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS.—Section
10
1834(j)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(j)(5))
11 is amended--
12 (i) in
subparagraph (E), by striking
13 at the end ‘‘and’’;
14 (ii) in
subparagraph (F), by striking
15 at the end the period an inserting ‘‘;
and’’;
16 and
17 (iii) by adding at the end the fol18
lowing new
subparagraph:
19 ‘‘(G) lymphedema compression treatment
20 items (as
described in section 1861(iii)).’’.
21 (3) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT
22 SERVICES.--
23 (A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(a) of
24 such
Act, as amended by paragraph (2)(A), is
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1 further
amended by adding at the end the fol2
lowing new paragraph:
3 ‘‘(11) with
respect to lymphedema diagnosis
4 and treatment services (as defined in
subsection
5 (hhh)(1))--
6 ‘‘(A) furnished by a qualified physical
ther7
apist or qualified occupational therapist, as de8
fined in section
1834(o)(2)(A), the amounts de9
scribed in section 1834(k); or
10 ‘‘(B)
furnished by a lymphedema therapist,
11 as defined by 1834(o)(2)(B), under
direction of
12 a qualified physical therapist or qualified
occu13
pational therapist, the amounts described in
14 section
1834(o).’’.
15 (B) PAYMENT METHOD.—Section 1834 of
16 such Act, as amended
by paragraph (2)(B), is
17 further amended by adding at the end the
fol18
lowing new subsection:
19 ‘‘(o) PAYMENT FOR OUTPATIENT LYMPHEDEMA
DI20
AGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES.--
21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of
section
22 1833(a)(11)(B), in the case of lymphedema diag23
nosis and
treatment services described in section
24 1861(hhh) for which payment is
determined under
25 this subsection and that are performed by a
quali-
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1 fied lymphedema therapist (as defined in
paragraph
2 (2)) under the direction of a qualified physician
3 therapist
or qualified occupational therapist, the
4 payment basis shall be 80 percent
of the lesser of--
5 ‘‘(A) the actual charge for the service; or
6 ‘‘(B)
the applicable fee schedule amount
7 (as defined in paragraph (3)) for the
services.
8 ‘‘(2) QUALIFIED THERAPISTS.—For purposes of
9 this
subsection:
10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘qualified’,
11 with respect to
a physical therapist, occupa12
tional therapist, or lymphedema
therapist,
13 means that the physical therapist, occupational
14
therapist, or lymphedema therapist meets the
15 quality requirements
described in section
16 1861(hhh)(2)(C).
17 ‘‘(B) LYMPHEDEMA
THERAPIST.—The
18 term ‘lymphedema therapist’ means any of the
19
following individuals so long as such individual
20 is legally authorized to
practice by the State in
21 which the lymphedema diagnosis and
treatment
22 service involved is performed and meets the
23 quality
requirements described in subparagraph
24 (A):
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1 ‘‘(i) A registered nurse, nurse practi2
tioner, family nurse
practitioner or clinical
3 nurse specialist (as described in section
4
1861(aa)(5)).
5 ‘‘(ii) A doctor of medicine or doctor of
6 osteopathy (as
described in section
7 1861(r)(1).
8 ‘‘(iii) A physician assistant (as
de9
scribed in section 1861(aa)(5)).
10 ‘‘(iv) A chiropractor.
11 ‘‘(v)
A licensed massage therapist.
12 ‘‘(vi) A licensed home health
practi13
tioner.
14 ‘‘(3) APPLICABLE FEE SCHEDULE AMOUNT.--
15 In this
subsection, the term ‘applicable fee schedule
16 amount’ means, with respect
to services furnished in
17 a year, the amount determined under the fee
sched18
ule established under section 1848 for such services
19 furnished
during the year or, if there is no such fee
20 schedule established for such
services, the amount
21 determined under the fee schedule established
for
22 such comparable services as the Secretary specifies.
23 ‘‘(4)
UNIFORM CODING.—For claims for serv24
ices for which the amount of payment is
determined
25 under this subsection, the claim shall include a
code
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1 (or codes) under a uniform coding system
specified
2 by the Secretary that identifies the services
fur3
nished.
4 ‘‘(5) RESTRAINT ON BILLING.—The provisions
5 of
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section
6 1842(b)(18) shall apply to lymphedema
diagnosis
7 and treatment services for which payment is made
8 under this
subsection in the same manner as they
9 apply to services provided by a
practitioner described
10 in section 1842(b)(18)(C), except that in
applying
11 such subparagraphs the practitioner described shall
12 be any
practitioner described in paragraph (2)(B).’’.
13 (C) EXCLUSION FROM CERTAIN
THERAPY
14 SERVICES.—Section 1833(g)(4) of such Act (42
15 U.S.C.
1395l(g)(4)) is amended by inserting
16 ‘‘or to expenses incurred with
respect to
17 lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services
18 (as defined
in subsection (hhh)(1))’’ before the
19 period at the end.
20 (c)
EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
21 this section shall apply to items
and services furnished on
22 or after the date that is 90 days from the date
of the
23 enactment of this Act.
Æ
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IN THE
SENATE/HOUSE
12/15/09
MR. KISSELL introduced the following bill:
A BILL:
to provide diagnosis and treatment
of individuals with and at
risk for lymphedema according to current medical
treatment standards with
the goal of reducing total healthcare costs through
avoidance of periodic
infections, pain and disabilities resulting from this
medical condition;
to enhance
quality of lymphedema patient care by providing
therapist qualification
requirements;
to provide for informed consent of
patients requiring surgery
and radiotherapy of the relative risks of
lymphedema for alternate
treatments considered;
to provide for lymphedema patient
education in the procedures
for self-treatment so as to transfer the
treatment from the clinical to
the
home setting;
to encourage patient
self-treatment plan compliance by
providing
necessary medical supplies for
use at home;
to expand patient access to qualified lymphedema therapy by
extending
coverage to qualified, trained lymphedema therapists who may
practice
under
a qualified physician, physical therapist or occupational
therapist.
*Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United
States of America in Congress assembled,*
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Lymphedema Diagnosis & Treatment Cost
Saving
Act of 2010"
SECTION 2. SUMMARY.
This Act amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, specifically to:
1. add lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services to the scope of Part
B
services in section 1832 [42 U.S.C. 1395k];
2. define the newly added services in section 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x];
3. add a new benefit category for compression therapy medical items
to
section 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x];
4. add lymphedema patient training to section 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x];
5. provide payment rules for compression therapy items to Section 1834
[42
U.S.C. 1395m] and for therapist services to Section 1833 [42
U.S.C.
1395l];
6 add a new health professional category of "certified
lymphedema
therapist"
to 1861 [42 U.S.C. 1395x] with definition of
qualification requirements.
SECTION 3. PROVISIONS.
TITLE XVIII--HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE AGED AND DISABLED of the
Social
Security Act is amended as follows:
(a). LYMPHEDEMA TREATMENT COVERAGE of costs of diagnosis and treatment
of
lymphedema from all sources.
(1*) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT SERVICES*--Section 1832
[42 U.S.C. 1395k] is amended in subsection
(a)(2) by adding lymphedema
diagnosis and treatment and compression
therapy as covered services:
* *
*"(K) lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services for treatment
of
lymphedema from all causes (as described in section 1861 (ccc)); and*
* *
*(L) coverage of medically-necessary lymphedema compression
treatment
items
(as described in section 1861 (s)(18))." *
(2) *DEFINITIONS*--Section 1861
[42 U.S.C. 1395x] is amended to
define patient education and training and
lymphedema diagnosis and
treatment
services:
(A) *PATIENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING*--in subsection
(s)(2)(S)--
(i) by adding "*and lymphedema*" after
"
*diabetes*"; and
(ii) by adding "*and subsection (ccc)*"
after *" subsection (qq)*"; and
(B) *LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
SERVICES*--by
adding at the end
the following new subsection:
*"Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Services*
* *
*"(ccc)(1) LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES-- The
term
"lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services" means differential
diagnosis
and treatment of lymphedema according to current medical standards
of
lymphedema treatment (i.e. "complex decongestive therapy") described
in
paragraph (2)(A) by, or under the direction of, a certified provider
as
described in paragraph (2)(B) in an outpatient setting by an individual
or
entity who meets the quality standards described in paragraph (2)(C),
but
only if the physician who is managing the individual's
lymphedema
condition
certifies that such services are needed under a
comprehensive plan of care
related to the individual's diagnosed lymphedema
condition.*
* *
* (2)
DEFINITIONS-- In paragraph (1)--*
*
(A) The current standard of lymphedema diagnosis
and treatment as defined by
the American Cancer Society and the
International Society of Lymphoology.
----------------
A celebration of women in the 111th Congress
by Larry Kissell
In honor of all the women of the 8th Congressional district, and in
celebration of the Women’s History
Month, I want to tell you a little bit
about some of what I’ve done to address women’s issues in the 111th
Congress.
As your Congressman, I get the opportunity to meet remarkable people like
Heather Ferguson, a Charlotte
mom fighting to help her three-year-old son,
and others like him, to get critical treatment for lymphedema.
Heather
struggled to get her health insurance to pay for the relatively-inexpensive
treatment to help her son
live a normal life without the serious
complications of untreated lymphedema. She knew if she didn’t do
something,
she would be fighting with this issue her entire life. So she took the issue to
her state
representative, another great woman, Tricia Cotham, and then,
brought her issue to me. Together, we
introduced legislation to ensure
Medicare covers treatment for lymphedema sufferers.
One of the largest groups of lymphedema sufferers are cancer patients. The
condition can be caused by
cancer treatments that affect the lymphatic
system. Breast cancer patients are especially susceptible to
lymphedema.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54. As
we all know too well, one in
eight of all women will get breast cancer in
her lifetime. Yet, more than 60 percent of breast cancer
occurrences are
detected in early stages. If detected early, 96 percent of women are cancer-free
after five
years. Breast cancer can strike at any age.
As we know, educating our daughters about early detection is one of the most
critical things we can do. In
an effort to promote early detection, I have
joined my colleagues in sponsoring a bill to increase breast
cancer
awareness in young women and provide support for young women diagnosed with
breast cancer.
I am putting an emphasis on holding insurance companies more accountable for
minimum hospital stays for
breast cancer treatment. I have sponsored a bill
to require minimum stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies
and lymph node
dissections in the course of breast cancer treatment. It would also require
coverage for
secondary consultations. Unfortunately, many rural medical
facilities aren’t equipped with the necessary
mammogram systems. I have
supported a bill to help address this need by expanding mobile mammography
vehicle access, to help bring the necessary technologies and treatment to
those that need it.
This week, I proudly joined with my colleagues to support an appropriation
for the Department of Defense
Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program.
I also voted to expand and improve health care services
from the Department
of Veterans Affairs available to women veterans, especially those serving in
Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our brave female
service members deserve to have their
needs taken into consideration when
receiving medical treatment.
Back in January, I sponsored a resolution recognizing the importance of
cervical health and the early
detection of cervical cancer. It was a
resolution I was honored to sponsor. We are also working on diabetes
research, treatment and education as well as fighting Sickle Cell Disease. I
am a strong supporter and
sponsor of H.R. 1032 which improves prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, stroke and
other cardiovascular
diseases in women. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in our
country. It
is vital that we continue to educate on ways to prevent heart
disease in all of us.
Health issues are of course not the only issues important to women. One of the first bills I voted for was the
Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. I was so
proud to support this bill, which is designed to ensure equal pay for
equal
work. It overturned a 2007 Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult
for women and others
to pursue claims of pay discrimination. It is important
to close the pay gap for women who work just as hard
as their male
counterparts.
In November, I voted to modify the Small Business Act to improve women’s
business centers. We need to
continue encouraging female entrepreneurs, who
are helping to create the small businesses which are driving
our economic
recovery.
I have been blessed in many ways during my life. Not the least of which is
the four amazing women who help
shape my view of the world - my mother
Virene, my wonderful wife Tina and my amazing daughters Jenny
and Aspen.
My 94-year-old mother is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She is
a retired mathematics teacher
and instilled in me a deep sense of community.
She inspired me to pursue a career in teaching and helped
give me the
strength to run for Congress. My wife and daughters are my rock. These three
generations of
Kissell women amaze me every day.
I hope you will take a moment this month to thank the women in your life for
everything they do.
Congressman Larry Kissell (D-N.C. -8) offices include Rockingham: 230 East
Franklin St., Rockingham,
NC 28379, Phone: 997-2070; Concord number (704)
786-1612; Fayetteville number (910) 920-2070;
Washington office: 512 Cannon
House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; phone (202) 225-3715.
Web site,
kissell.house.gov.
http://www.yourdailyjournal.com/view/full_story_home/6700436/article-A-celebration-of-women-in-the-
111th-Congress?instance=homesecondary_opinion_left_column
--------
The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010 was introduced
in the US House of
Representatives by my Congressman, Larry Kissell, on
February 23rd and assigned the number HR 4662.
To read the bill and
related information you can visit the Library of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/;
select
search by bill number and enter HR 4662 in the
box.
Please help - It is time for you to do your
part to ensure this act is passed into law!
Contact your Representative and
Senators and urge them to sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
The greater the number of sponsors the greater our chances will be at
getting this bill passed. Elected
officials are only accountable to
their constituents, therefore only you have the power to persuade your
members of Congress to support this bill. If passed, this act will
ensure that we finally have nationwide,
comprehensive lymphedema treatment
coverage for all Americans who are insured – no matter what the
cause of
their lymphedema or whether they have Medicare or private insurance.
Below is a sample letter you can use as is, but I hope that you will
personalize yours, especially if you are a
cancer survivor, have lymphedema,
are a doctor or therapist. Please forward this information to others
willing to support this effort. Feel free to contact me with questions
– Heather Ferguson, hmff@earthlink.
net.
You may find
your Congressional representatives by going to http://www.contactingthecongress.org
and
entering your address. If you are able to forward the National
Lymphedema Network office (nln@lymphnet.
org) the name and contact
information of your representative they will also send a letter to
him/her.
If you are represented by Congressman Kissell - instead of sending
the letter below please write to thank
him for his sponsorship and reiterate
the importance of this bill being passed into law.
SEND EMAILS TO: Your
Representative and Senators
SUBJECT: Please (co)sponsor HR 4662, the
Lymphedema Diagnosis & Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010
BODY:
Dear (name of Representative/Senator you are sending to),
I am
writing to urge you to sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of the Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment
Cost Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662, introduced by
Congressman Larry Kissell on February 23, 2010.
This act will reduce
Medicare costs while improving patient care and quality of life. Currently
Medicare and
some private insurance companies do not offer complete coverage
for this disease, which afflicts millions of
Americans, and is most commonly
caused by treatment for cancer. These policies only cover the expensive,
difficult to treat and often chronic complications which are the inevitable
result of patients having not received
the proper medical care in the
earlier stages. Such policies are falling short of providing these
individuals
treatment in accordance with established standards of
care. And current policies lead to the expenditure of
immense amounts
of precious healthcare resources to treat preventable lymphedema-related
cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema is a medical necessity critical to the
health and well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The
clinically-proven treatment of lymphedema is called "complex decongestive
therapy".
It is used world-wide by the medical community, is not
experimental and has decades of proven success.
Unfortunately, not all
components of this treatment fall under categories for which Medicare or private
insurance companies typically provide coverage. With treatment, a
patient lives a long, healthy and virtually
normal life. But without
treatment, the disease can grow progressively worse, causing severe
disfigurement,
disability and pain, and in some cases even results in
death. A lymphedema treatment mandate went in to
effect in North
Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the National Lymphedema
Network and Susan G. Komen for the
Cure, and the endorsement of other
national groups is anticipated. For additional information or
to (co)
sponsor this bill, contact Zach Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s
office at [email protected] or
202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare
costs, by signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address (required)
-----
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Saskia R.J. Thiadens, RN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wade Farrow, MD, CWS, FCCWS
Dave W. Lob, MBA
Tess Karwoski, RN
Max
Salas, MBA
Saskia R.J. Thiadens, RN
MEDICAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Jane M. Armer, RN,
PhD
Marcia Beck, APRN, BC, CLT-LANA
Andrea L. Cheville, MD
Janice N.
Cormier, MD, MPH
Joseph L. Feldman, MD, CLT-LANA
Kathleen Francis,
MD
Mei R. Fu, PhD, MS, MA, RN, APRN-BC
Nancy Hutchison, MD
Bonnie B.
Lasinski, MA, PT, CLT-LANA
Ruth Moseley, MS, PT, CLT-LANA
Sheila H.
Ridner, MSN, PhD, RN
Paula J. Stewart, MD, CLT-LANA
Saskia R.J. Thiadens,
RN
Kathryn McKillip Thrift, BS, CLT-LANA
Catherine M. Tuppo, MS, PT,
CLT-LANA
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Judith Casley-Smith, PhD
Lymphoëdema Association of Australia
Dr. med Ételka Földi
Földi-Klinik, Germany
Prof. Dr. med Michael Földi
Földi-Klinik, Germany
Waldermar L. Olszewski, MD
Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
Marlys H. Witte, MD
University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson
National Lymphedema Network, Inc.
116 New Montgomery Street, Suite
235
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: (415) 908-3681
Fax: (415) 908-3813
Infoline: 800-541-3259
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lymphnet.org
The NLN is a 501©(3)
Non-profit organization
Honorable Senator/Congressmember [Name of your legislator]
The National Lymphedema Network urges you
to move H.R. 4662 the Lymphedema Diagnosis and
Treatment Cost-Saving Act of
2010 [Kissell NC] to the House with a favorable recommendation this
session.
LYMPHEDEMA is a medical condition affecting an
estimated 1.5 to 3 million Medicare Beneficiaries
who are not currently
receiving treatment from Medicare according to the current medical standard of
care.
But what is worse is that Medicare is spending billions of dollars
every year treating largely preventable
lymphedema-related CELLULITIS.
There is no conflict with current
Congressional efforts to pass a Medicare access bill since this is a
quality
of care bill. The bill also does not conflict with any CMS policies, but instead
it removes ambiguities
and clarifies coverage issues.
LYMPHEDEMA is a condition caused by injury,
trauma or congenital defects involving the lymph
system. The primary
function of the lymphatic system is to cleanse the body of toxins and defend
against
infection. Primary Lymphedema is congenital. Secondary Lymphedema
can be caused by surgeries or
radiation treatments and is a common side
effect of cancer treatments that remove or damage lymph nodes.
Lymphedema
results in the chronic swelling of a body area or part nearest the damaged
portion of the lymph
system, commonly an arm or leg, but the chest, neck and
trunk can also be affected.
Lymphedema is incurable and progressive, and
if left untreated, the swollen area can become fibrous
and prone to serious,
debilitating infections. Over time, untreated lymphedema results in
disfigurement,
disability and even death.
The recognized standard of treatment of
lymphedema is Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT). CDT
comprises four
interacting protocols applied in two phases (acute and ongoing): manual lymph
drainage
(MLD); compression therapy; lymph drainage exercises; and skin
care. [Refs: ACS 1998, ISL 2003, NLN
2006]. The initial intensive phase is
performed by medical professionals, but ongoing care is patient
self-
provided using techniques taught the patient by the healthcare
provider.
Medicare does not cover lymphedema
treatment materials or treatment by lymphedema- qualified
professionals
other than Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists, nor does Medicare
require that
the provider of lymphedema treatment services be qualified in
the specialized techniques. While Medicare
does cover and pay for
statutorily-limited therapy and sequential compression pumps, many patients
suffer
recurrent infections, progressive degradation in their condition and
eventual disability because they cannot
afford the compression bandages and
garments required for their everyday self-care.
Denials of coverage for lymphedema compression bandage systems, compression
garments and devices and
supplies are based on inconsistent interpretations
of Federal statutes and the Medicare publication system,
and CMS has stated
repeatedly that a change in the law will be necessary in order for them to
change their
policies to cover these medically necessary items. This bill
will accomplish the required change.
Please understand that this is NOT a new
health mandate. The staff, equipment and facilities are already
in place in
most medical providers. Most providers already cover lymphedema treatment, and
there are no
exclusions in any medical policies that we are aware of. The
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of
1998 already mandates the treatment
of lymphedema resulting from breast cancer treatment. This bill would
extend
that care to Medicare beneficiaries for all causes of lymphedema.
It can be shown to result in medical savings
which exceed ongoing costs by factors of 2-5. A
lymphedema coverage mandate
has been in effect in Virginia since 2004, and a similar law was passed in
North Carolina this year, to become effective in 2010. Data from the first
five years of operation in Virginia
show claim costs of $1.12-2.82 per year
per contract (0.04-0.09% of total claims) not accounting for the
savings due
to reduced cellulitis rates.
We urge you to move H.R. 4662 Kissell
which has the backing of the National Lymphedema
Network. Contact us with
any questions or with requests for further information, medical evidence, cost
efficacy data or any other questions.
Sincerely yours,
Saskia R.J. Thiadens R.N.
Executive Director, NLN
------
HOUSE
Medical Doctors
Family medicine
Vic Snyder – [email protected]
Arkansas-2nd,
Democrat
2210 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0402
Phone: (202)
225-2506 / fax 225-5903
John C. Fleming – [email protected]
Louisiana-4th,
Republican
1023 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1804
Phone: (202)
225-2777 / fax - 225-8039
Paul Broun – [email protected]
Georgia-10th,
Republican
325 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1009
Phone: (202)
225-4101 / fax 226-0776
Delegate Donna Christensen
Virgin
Islands-Delegate, Democrat
1510 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-5501
Phone: (202) 225-1790 / Fax: 202-225-5517
Dir. of Health Policy
Britt Weinstock: [email protected]
Psychiatrist
Jim McDermott – [email protected]
Washington-7th,
Democrat
1035 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4707
Phone: (202)
225-3106 / Fax: 202-225-6197
Ob/gyns
Michael C. Burgess
Texas-26th,
Republican
229 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4326
Phone: (202)
225-7772, Fax: 202-225-2919
Heath aide - James Paluskiewicz: [email protected]
Ron Paul – already a co-sponsor!
Phil Roe– already a co-sponsor!
Phil
Gingrey
Georgia-11th, Republican
119 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC
20515-1011
Phone: (202) 225-2931 / Fax: 202-225-2944
Heath aide - Robert
Horne: [email protected]
Allergist
Steve Kagen - [email protected]
Wisconsin-8th,
Democrat
1232 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4908
Phone: (202)
225-5665 / fax 225-5729
Heart surgeon
Charles Boustany
Louisiana-7th,
Republican
1117 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1807
Phone: (202)
225-2031 / Fax: 202-225-5724
Heath aide - Mike Thompson: [email protected]
Radiation oncologist
Parker Griffith
Alabama-5th, Republican
417
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0105
Phone: (202) 225-4801 / Fax:
202-225-4392
Marcus Huskey: [email protected]
Orthopedic surgeons
Tom Price – [email protected]
Georgia-6th,
Republican
424 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1006
Phone: (202)
225-4501 / fax 225-4656
Hematologist/gastroenterologist
Bill Cassidy – [email protected]
Louisiana-6th,
Republican
506 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1806
Phone: (202)
225-3901 / fax 225-7313
Nurses
Carolyn McCarthy
New York-4th, Democrat
2346 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3204
Phone: (202) 225-5516 / fax 225-5758
Lois
Capps
California-23rd, Democrat
1110 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-0523
Phone: (202) 225-3601 / Fax: 202-225-5632
Heath aide - Amy
Fisher: [email protected]
Eddie
Bernice Johnson
Texas-30th, Democrat
1511 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-4330
Phone: (202) 225-8885 / fax 226-1477
Scientists
Physicists
Rush Holt – Rob Saunders - [email protected]
New
Jersey-12th, Democrat
1214 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC
20515-3012
Phone: (202) 225-5801 / fax 225-6025
Bill Foster – [email protected]
Illinois-14th,
Democrat
1339 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1314
Phone: (202)
225-2976 / fax 225-0697
Vern Ehlers – [email protected]
Michigan-3rd,
Republican
2182 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2203
Phone: (202)
225-3831 / fax 225-5144
Chemist
Ed Pastor – Karen Foster Wright (did not
clarify email address – sorry)
Arizona-4th, Democrat
2465 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0304
Phone: (202) 225-4065 / fax 225-1655
Microbiologist
Rep. Louise Slaughter –Sarah Norman ([email protected])
- (This is what they said the address was,
but it is strange not to use the
last name) or [email protected]
New
York-28th, Democrat
2469 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3228
Phone:
(202) 225-3615 / Fax: 202-225-7822
Physiologist
Roscoe Bartlett – Faye Powers - [email protected]
Maryland-6th,
Republican
2412 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2006
Phone: (202)
225-2721 / fax 225-2193
SENATE
Ob/gyns
Tom Coburn – [email protected]
(R - OK) Class
III
172 RUSSELL
SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC
20510
(202)
224-5754 / fax 224-6008
Orthopedic
surgeons
John Barrasso - [email protected]
(R - WY) Class
I
307 DIRKSEN
SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC
20510
(202)
224-6441 / fax 224-1724
-----
ENERGY AND COMMERCE
Henry A. Waxman, CA, Chairman – Phone: (202) 225-3976, Fax:
202-225-4099,
2204 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0530
[email protected]
John D. Dingell, MI, Chairman Emeritus - Phone: (202) 225-4071, Fax:
202-226-0371
2328 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2215
[email protected]
HEALTH
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ, Chairman - Phone: (202) 225-4671, Fax:
202-225-9665
237 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3006
Heath aide -
Tiffany Guarascio: [email protected]
John D. Dingell, MI - Phone: (202) 225-4071, Fax: 202-226-0371
237 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3006
[email protected]
Bart Gordon, TN - Phone: (202) 225-4231, Fax: 202-225-6887
2306 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4206
[email protected]
Anna G. Eshoo, CA - Phone: (202) 225-8104, Fax: 202-225-8890
205 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0514
[email protected]
Heath aide - Erin Katzelnick-Wise: [email protected]
Eliot L. Engel, NY - Phone: (202) 225-2464, Fax: 202-225-5513
2161
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3217
conduit name is Emily Gibbons: [email protected]
Gene Green, TX - Phone: (202) 225-1688, Fax: 202-225-9903
2372 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4329
Heath aide - Abigail Pinkele: [email protected]
Diana DeGette, CO - Phone: (202) 225-4431, Fax: 202-225-5657
2335 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0601
[email protected]
Heath aide -
Heather Foster: [email protected]
Lois Capps, CA, Vice Chair - Phone: (202) 225-3601, Fax: 202-225-5632
1110
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0523
Heath aide - Amy Fisher: [email protected]
Janice D. Schakowsky, IL - Phone: (202) 225-2111, Fax: 202-226-6890
2367
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1309
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Rebecca Mark: [email protected]
Tammy Baldwin, WI - Phone: (202) 225-2906, Fax: 202-225-6942
2446 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4902
[email protected]
Heath aide - Elizabeth Lee: [email protected]
Mike Ross, AR - Phone: (202) 225-3772, Fax: 202-225-1314
2436 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0404
Heath aide - Kate Callanan: [email protected]
Anthony D. Weiner, NY - Phone: (202) 225-6616, Fax: 202-226-7243
2104
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3209
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Joe Dunn: [email protected]
Jim Matheson, UT - Phone: (202) 225-3011, Fax: 202-225-5638
2434 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4402
[email protected]
Heath aide
- Shana Beavin: [email protected]
Jane Harman, CA - Phone: (202) 225-8220, Fax: 202-226-7290
2400 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0536
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Isidro Panuco: [email protected]
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX - Phone: (202) 225-3236, Fax: 202-225-1915
303
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4320
Heath aide - Julie Hart: [email protected]
John Barrow, GA - Phone: (202) 225-2823, Fax: 202-225-3377
213 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1012
Heath aide - Hill Thomas: [email protected]
Donna M. Christensen, VI - Phone: (202) 225-1790, Fax: 202-225-5517
1510
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-5501
[email protected]
Dir.
of Health Policy Britt Weinstock: [email protected]
Kathy Castor, FL - Phone: (202) 225-3376, Fax: 202-225-5652
317 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0911
Heath aide - Jocelyn Reid: [email protected]
John P. Sarbanes, MD - Phone: (202) 225-4016, Fax: 202-225-9219
426 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2003
Heath aide - Dvora Lovinger: [email protected]
Christopher S. Murphy, CT - Phone: (202) 225-4476, Fax: 202-225-4488
412
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0705
Jesse Young (Energy and Commerce
staffer): [email protected]
Heath
aide - Paul Kidwell (Health Staffer): [email protected]
Zachary T. Space, OH - Phone: (202) 225-6265, Fax: 202-225-3394
315 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3518
Betty Sutton, OH - Phone: (202) 225-3401, Fax: 202-225-2266
1721 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3513
Heath aide - Carla McNeill: [email protected]
Bruce L. Braley, IA - Phone: (202) 225-2911, Fax: 202-225-9129
1019
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1501
Heath aide - Mike Goodman: [email protected]
Henry A. Waxman, CA, Ex Officio - Phone: (202) 225-3976, Fax:
202-225-4099
2204 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0530
[email protected]
Nathan Deal, GA - Phone: (202) 225-5211, Fax: 202-225-5995
2133 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1010
Heath aide - Blake Fulenwider: [email protected]
Ralph M. Hall, TX – Phone: (202) 225-6673, Fax: 202-225-3332
2405 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4304
[email protected]
Heath aide -
Kyle Oliver: [email protected]
Ed Whitfield, KY - Phone: (202) 225-3115, Fax: 202-225-3547
2411 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1701
Heath aide - Jeff Mortier: [email protected]
John Shimkus, IL - Phone: (202) 225-5271, Fax: 202-225-5880
2452 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1319
Heath aide - Chris Sarley: [email protected]
John B. Shadegg, AZ - Phone: (202) 225-3361, Fax: 202-225-3462
436 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0303
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Paul Edattel: [email protected]
Roy Blunt, MO - Phone: (202) 225-6536, Fax: 202-225-5604
2229 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2507
[email protected]
Heath aide
- Kristina Weger: [email protected]
Steve Buyer, IN - Phone: (202) 225-5037, Fax: 202-225-2267
2230 Rayburn
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1404
Heath aide - Allison Hite: [email protected]
Joseph R. Pitts, PA - Phone: (202) 225-2411, Fax: 202-225-2013
420 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3816
Heath aide - Monica Volante: [email protected]
Mike Rogers, MI - Phone: (202) 225-3261, Fax: 202-225-5820
133 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2208
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC - Phone: (202) 225-1976, Fax: 202-225-3389
230
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3309
[email protected]
Heath aide - Sarah
Hale: [email protected],
Scheduler: [email protected]
Tim Murphy, PA - Phone: (202) 225-2301, Fax: 202-225-1844
322 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3818
Heath aide - Brad Grantz: [email protected]
Michael C. Burgess, TX - Phone: (202) 225-7772, Fax: 202-225-2919
229
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4326
Heath aide - James Paluskiewicz: [email protected]
Marsha Blackburn, TN - Phone: (202) 225-2811, Fax: 202-225-3004
217
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4207
Heath aide - Cara Dalmolin: [email protected]
Phil Gingrey, GA - Phone: (202) 225-2931, Fax: 202-225-2944
119 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1011
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Robert Horne: [email protected]
Joe Barton, TX, Ex Officio – Phone: (202) 225-2002, Fax: 202-225-3052
2109
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4306
Heath aide - Noel Bryant: [email protected]
WAYS AND MEANS
Charles B. Rangel, NY, Chairman - Phone: (202) 225-4365, Fax:
202-226-0816
2354 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3215
Heath aide -
Jon Sheiner: [email protected]
HEALTH
Fortney Pete Stark, CA, Chairman - Phone: (202) 225-5065, Fax:
202-226-3805
239 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0513
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Debra Curtis: [email protected]
Lloyd Doggett, TX - Phone: (202) 225-4865, Fax: 202-225-2947
201 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4325
Heath aide - Michealle Carpenter: [email protected]
Mike Thompson, CA - Phone: (202) 225-4865, Fax: 202-225-2947
231 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0501
Heath aide - Elizabeth Ziegler: [email protected]
Xavier Becerra, CA - Phone: (202) 225-6235, Fax: 202-225-2202
1119
Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0531
Heath aide - Sean McCluskie: [email protected]
Earl Pomeroy, ND - Phone: (202) 225-2611, Fax: 202-226-0893
1501 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3401
[email protected]
Ron Kind, WI - Phone: (202) 225-5506, Fax: 202-225-5739
1406 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4903
Heath aide - Travis Robey: [email protected]
Earl Blumenauer, OR - Phone: (202) 225-4811, Fax: 202-225-8941
2267
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3703
Heath aide - Christa Shively: [email protected]
Bill Pascrell, Jr., NJ - Phone: (202) 225-5751, Fax: 202-225-5751
2464
Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3008
Heath aide - Mandy Spears: [email protected]
Shelley Berkley, NV - Phone: (202) 225-5965, Fax: 202-225-3119
405 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-2801
[email protected]
Heath
aide - Carrie Fiarman: [email protected]
Wally Herger, CA - Phone: (202) 225-3076, Fax: 202-225-1740
242 Cannon
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0502
Heath aide - Jay Fulzsmann: [email protected]
Sam Johnson, TX - Phone: (202) 225-4201, Fax: 202-225-1485
1211 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4303
Heath aide - Jeni Healy: [email protected]
Paul Ryan, WI - Phone: (202) 225-3031, Fax: 202-225-3393
1113 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4901
Heath aide - Matt Hoffmann: [email protected]
Devin Nunes, CA - Phone: (202) 225-2523, Fax: 202-225-3404
1013 Longworth
HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0521
Heath aide - Andrew House [email protected]
Ginny Brown-Waite, FL - Phone: (202) 225-1002, Fax: 202-226-6559
414
Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0905
Heath aide - Justin Graybelle: [email protected].
The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010 has been
introduced in the US House
of Representatives by my Congressman, Larry
Kissell, and assigned the number HR 4662. To read the bill
and related
information you can visit the Library of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/;
select search by bill
number and enter HR 4662 in the
box.
Please do your part to ensure this act is
passed into law!
Contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to
sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
The greater the
number of sponsors the greater our chances will be at getting this bill
passed. Elected
officials are only accountable to their constituents,
therefore only you have the power to persuade your
members of Congress to
support this bill. If passed, this act will ensure that we finally have
nationwide,
comprehensive lymphedema treatment coverage for all Americans
who are insured – no matter what the
cause of their lymphedema or whether
they have Medicare or private insurance.
Below are sample
letters you can use as is, but I hope that you will personalize yours,
especially if you are a
cancer survivor, have lymphedema, are a doctor or
therapist. Please forward this information to others
willing to
support this effort. Feel free to contact me with questions – Heather
Ferguson, [email protected].
You may
find your Congressional representatives by going to http://www.contactingthecongress.org
and
entering your address. If you are able to forward the National
Lymphedema Network office (nln@lymphnet.
org) the name and contact
information of your representative they will also send a letter to
him/her.
If you are represented by Congressman Kissell - instead of sending
the letter below please write to thank
him for his sponsorship and reiterate
the importance of this bill being passed into law.
EMAIL TO: Your
Representative
SUBJECT: Please (co)sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema
Diagnosis & Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010
EMAIL BODY:
Dear
(name of Representative),
I am writing to urge you to sign on as a primary or
co-sponsor of the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment
Cost Saving Act of
2010, HR 4662, introduced by Congressman Larry Kissell on February 23,
2010.
This act will reduce Medicare costs while improving patient care
and quality of life. Currently Medicare and
some private insurance
companies do not offer complete coverage for this disease, which afflicts
millions of
Americans, and is most commonly caused by treatment for cancer,
with breast cancer being by far the most
prevalent cause. These
policies only cover the expensive, difficult to treat and often chronic
complications
which are the inevitable result of patients having not
received the proper medical care in the earlier stages.
Such policies
are falling short of providing these individuals treatment in accordance with
established
standards of care. And current policies lead to the
expenditure of immense amounts of precious healthcare
resources to treat
preventable lymphedema-related cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema is a
medical necessity critical to the health and well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The clinically-proven treatment of lymphedema is
called "complex/complete decongestive
therapy". It is used world-wide
by the medical community, is not experimental and has decades of proven
success. Unfortunately, not all components of this treatment fall
under categories for which Medicare or
private insurance companies typically
provide coverage. With treatment, a patient lives a long, healthy and
virtually normal life. But without treatment, the disease can grow
progressively worse, causing severe
disfigurement, disability and pain, and
in some cases even results in death. A lymphedema treatment
mandate
went in to effect in North Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect
in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the
National Lymphedema Network and the endorsement of
other national groups is
anticipated. For additional information or to (co)sponsor this
bill, contact Zach
Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s office at [email protected]
or 202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare
costs, by signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address (required)
EMAIL TO: Both of your Senators
SUBJECT: Please Sponsor HR
4662, the Lymphedema Diagnosis & Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010
BODY:
Dear (name of Senator),
The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662, was introduced by
Congressman Larry Kissell on
February 23, 2010. I am writing to urge you to sponsor companion
legislation in the Senate.
This act will reduce Medicare costs while
improving patient care and quality of life. Currently Medicare and
some private insurance companies do not offer complete coverage for this
disease, which afflicts millions of
Americans, and is most commonly caused
by treatment for cancer, with breast cancer being by far the most
prevalent
cause. These policies only cover the expensive, difficult to treat and
often chronic complications
which are the inevitable result of patients
having not received the proper medical care in the earlier stages.
Such policies are falling short of providing these individuals treatment in
accordance with established
standards of care. And current policies
lead to the expenditure of immense amounts of precious healthcare
resources
to treat preventable lymphedema-related cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema
is a medical necessity critical to the health and well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The clinically-proven treatment of lymphedema is
called "complex/complete decongestive
therapy". It is used world-wide
by the medical community, is not experimental and has decades of proven
success. Unfortunately, not all components of this treatment fall
under categories for which Medicare or
private insurance companies typically
provide coverage. With treatment, a patient lives a long, healthy and
virtually normal life. But without treatment, the disease can grow
progressively worse, causing severe
disfigurement, disability and pain, and
in some cases even results in death. A lymphedema treatment
mandate
went in to effect in North Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect
in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the
National Lymphedema Network and the endorsement of
other national groups is
anticipated. For additional information or to (co)sponsor this
bill, contact Zach
Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s office at [email protected]
or 202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare
costs, by signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address (required)
---------
(Date)
Dear (name of Representative/Senator you are sending to),
I am writing to urge you to sign on as a primary or co-sponsor of the
Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment
Cost Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662,
introduced by Congressman Larry Kissell on February 23, 2010.
This act will reduce Medicare costs while improving patient care and quality
of life. Currently Medicare and
some private insurance companies do not
offer complete coverage for this disease, which afflicts millions of
Americans, and is most commonly caused by treatment for cancer. These
policies only cover the expensive,
difficult to treat and often chronic
complications which are the inevitable result of patients having not received
the proper medical care in the earlier stages. Such policies are falling
short of providing these individuals
treatment in accordance with
established standards of care. And current policies lead to the expenditure of
immense amounts of precious healthcare resources to treat preventable
lymphedema-related cellulitis.
Treatment for lymphedema is a medical necessity critical to the health and
well-being of those who suffer
from the disease. The clinically-proven
treatment of lymphedema is called "complex decongestive therapy".
It is used
world-wide by the medical community, is not experimental and has decades of
proven success.
Unfortunately, not all components of this treatment fall
under categories for which Medicare or private
insurance companies typically
provide coverage. With treatment, a patient lives a long, healthy and virtually
normal life. But without treatment, the disease can grow progressively
worse, causing severe disfigurement,
disability and pain, and in some cases
even results in death. A lymphedema treatment mandate went in to
effect in
North Carolina January 1, 2010, and one has been in effect in Virginia since
2004.
This bill already has the official backing of the National Lymphedema Network
and Susan G. Komen for the
Cure, and the endorsement of other national
groups is anticipated. For additional information or to (co)
sponsor this
bill, contact Zach Pfister in Congressman Kissell’s office at [email protected]
or
202-225-3715.
Please support the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of
2010, which will improve
patient care while reducing Medicare costs, by
signing on as a primary or co-sponsor of this bill.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Your address – REQUIRED)
---------------------------------------
Dear HR 4662 Supporters,
This
update is devoted to announcing a new way in which you can help. We are
launching the “Share
Your Lymphedema Story” campaign! Complete
information is below.
I am thrilled to be able to attend the National Lymphedema Conference taking place this week, and for
those of you
who will also be there I look forward to meeting you in person.
Please
continue to write Congress asking members to cosponsor our bill and do let me
know if you
have any questions or need any additional
information.
Many thanks,
Heather
Ferguson
[email protected]
The Lymphedema “Share Your Story”
Campaign
What will my letter be used for?
Your letter will be shared with
members of Congress and other groups which we are seeking support
from for HR 4662.
How to participate
Send to: [email protected]
Subject Line: My Lymphedema
Story
Format: Please place the following at the top of your letter
Name
Complete Address
Address
Length: That is up to you but we suggest that you try to not
exceed one typed page.
Suggested Content:
· Is your
lymphedema primary or secondary?
· What is the cause, if known?
· If the result of cancer please specify what kind of cancer.
·
The age of onset.
· The length of time before you were
diagnosed.
· The length of time until you were able to begin
treatment.
· Have you ever had a problem accessing treatment or
finding a qualified doctor or therapist?
· Has your insurance ever
denied coverage for any portion of your treatment?
· Have you ever
had to go without treatment due to lack of insurance coverage?
· If
yes, what were the consequences?
· How has lymphedema impacted your
life?
· What would this legislation mean to you is passed and how
would it improve your quality of
life?
---------------------------
This update is devoted to
sharing with you the long list of endorsements for HR 4662. I know I speak
for the entire lymphedema community in expressing my gratitude to the
supporters listed below! If you
know of an organization, treatment
center, doctor, etc, who may be interested in endorsing the bill
please put them in touch with me or send me their contact
information.
And as always, please continue to contact all US
Representatives in your state, asking that they co-
sponsor HR
4662.
Many thanks,
Heather
Ferguson
[email protected]
FOUNDATIONS &
NON-PROFITS
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
(AAHSA)
Association of Oncology Social Work
Breast Cancer
Action
Breast Cancer Network of Strength
Colon Cancer
Alliance
Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Komen Advocacy
Alliance
Lighthouse Lymphedema Network
LiveStrong - the Lance Armstrong
Foundation
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Lymphedema Awareness Foundation
(LAF)
National Lymphedema Network
NC Comprehensive Cancer
Program
Sarcoma Foundation of America
ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS
Elymphnotes
Lymph Notes
Lymphedema
Community
Lymphedema People
Lymphland
Stand Up - Speak Out
The Annie
Appleseed Project
PROMINENT DOCTORS AND RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD OF
LYMPHOLOGY
Andrea Cheville, MD - Associate Professor Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic College
of Medicine
Robert E.
Ferrell, PhD - University of Pittsburgh Lymphedema Family Study
David N.
Finegold, MD - University of Pittsburgh Lymphedema Family Study
Lawrence
Gibson, MD - Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Nancy
A. Hutchison, MD - Medical Director for Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema,
Virginia
Piper Cancer Institute
Gil Yosipovitch, MD - Professor,
Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University Health
Sciences
TREATMENT CLINICS
Carolinas Rehabilitation
James
Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute
Northwest Lymphedema
Center
Rivertown Lymphedema Clinic and Rehab, LLC.
Siskin Hospital and
Rehabilitation Center
Vascular Anomalies Center at Children's Hospital
Boston
TRAINING SCHOOLS
Academy of Lymphatic Studies
Finger
Lakes Massage School
Klose Training & Consulting
Norton School of
Lymphatic Therapy
The Chikly Health Institute (C.H.I.)
The Vodder
School
MANUFACTURERS
BiaCare
BSN Medical / Jobst
CircAid
Medical Products, Inc.
Farrow Medical Innovations
ImpediMed
JoViPak
Corporation
Lohmann & Rauscher
LympheDIVAs
mediUSA
RHC,
LLC
Solaris
Torbot Group, Inc, Jobskin Div
SUPPLIERS
Alala,
LLC
Brown Medical Industries
Close to You, Inc.
Lymphedema Products,
LLC.
------------------------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EomADiGIFw&feature=email
Attention
all Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists:
Thank you so much
for your personal support of the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost
Saving Act of 2010. I am sending this special message for all OT’s and
PT’s on my contact list to urge
you to write your professional
organizations expressing your support for this bill and your desire that the
AOTA and APTA also support HR 4662. Both groups are currently
reviewing the legislation. As they
are deliberating over whether
or not to formally endorse this bill it is important that they hear from you,
their members. Please write the AOTA and APTA and ask that they
endorse HR 4662 and share this
important message with your
colleagues.
Thank you for your help,
Heather Ferguson
[email protected]
American
Occupational Therapy Association
4720 Montgomery Lane
PO Box
31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-12204720 Mont4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box
30824-1220
Phone: 301-652-2682 Phone: 301-652-2682 TDD: 800-377-8555
Fax: 301-652-7711
Fax: 301-652-77114-1
http://www.aota.org22
http://www.aota.org/Login.aspx 0
Phone: 301-652-2682 TDD:
800-377-8555 Fax: 301-652-7711
American Physical Therapy
Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA
22314-1488
800/999-APTA (2782)
703/684-APTA (2782)
Fax:
703/684-7343
http://www.apta.org
https://www.apta.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Logout&Template=/Security/login.cfm
December 18, 2009:
It
is will great pleasure that I am able to inform you that a sponsor for the
“Lymphedema Diagnosis and
Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010” has
been found! We are now one huge step closer to ensuring
nation-wide LE treatment coverage for all lymphedema
sufferers.
As some of you already know, this year I was
successful in obtaining a state mandate in North Carolina
which
will require all insurance plans in this state to cover LE treatment starting
in 2010. You can read
an account of that process at LymphNotes
(http://www.lymphnotes.com/story.php/id/475/). Having
succeeded at
the state level I set my sites on a federal bill. On November 30th I met with
my
Congressman, Larry Kissell. Today I was informed that
Congressman Kissell will indeed be the
Primary Sponsor of this
legislation, a draft of which is attached.
This draft has
already been sent to the Office of the Legislative Counsel. Legislative Counsel
essentially
advises and assists the House, its Committees, and
Members in preparing drafts that reflect the
legislative objectives
of the Member or Committee concerned. Once they have a final draft it will be
returned to Congressman Kissell who will then formally introduce the
bill. This could occur as soon as
January.
I have
been advised by Kissell’s staff that the most important thing we can do at this
time is seek
addition Primary Sponsors and Co-sponsors for the
bill. The more sponsors a bill has the better
chance it will have
of not dying in committee and actually being passed in to law. Please write
your
Congressperson and Senator and urge them to sign on as a
Primary or Co-sponsor. Instruct them to
contact Congressman
Kissell do so. They will of course know how to reach him but include these
numbers anyways - the Concord District Office at 704-786-1612 and the
number for Congressman
Kissell's DC Office which is 202-225-3715.
Also attached to this email are the documents I presented
at my
meeting with Kissell and my cover letter, which I am including just to give you
ideas for your
own. I would suggest including all of these items
along with the draft of the bill when you contact your
Congressperson and Senator.
To locate contact
information for your Congressperson go to http://www.house.gov/Welcome.shtml
and in the upper left hand corner you’ll enter your zip code. To
find your Senator’s contact information
go to http://www.senate.gov/
and use the look-up tools in the upper right hand corner.
This
evening I spoke with Bob Weiss, Legislative Advocate for the National
Lymphedema Network,
and also the author of the original draft of the proposed bill. I believe he will be preparing, on behalf of
the NLN, further instructions and advice for writing your
representatives. I will pass that and any other
information along
as I receive it.
It is critically important that we collect
these co-sponsors and only you can make this happen.
Elected
officials are only accountable to their constituents, so only you have the
power to persuade
him/her. Let me know if you have any questions
and thank you in advance for your help.
Please forward this to members
of the LE community and others willing to help.
Most
Sincerely,
Heather
Ferguson
[email protected]
704-532-8083
March 9,
2010:
I received the following email this morning from
Congressman Kissell's Communications Director,
Haven Kerchner. She
interviewed me this week and the following press release was sent out
yesterday.
Please feel free to forward this, especially to any media contacts you may
have. I am also
attaching the information to write your
Representative and Senators again. I have even simplified it a bit
by having a separate letter for each branch of Congress. There is a
slight wording difference to reflect
the fact that the bill has
already been introduced in the House but that we are still seeking a primary
sponsor to introduce the bill in the Senate.
Great
news - for those of you who do not yet know, we have picked up our first
co-sponsor, Ron Paul
of Texas! But we need many more so please make
the personal commitment to write your Congress
members ASAP if you
have not already done so.
Thank you - Heather Ferguson, [email protected]
For Immediate Release: March 4,
2010
Contact: Haven Kerchner, 704-786-1612
[email protected]
Congressman Kissell Introduces Bill
Requiring Fair Treatment of Lymphedema Patients
WASHINGTON –
Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-08) has introduced legislation which would
require Medicare to offer fair treatment coverage for Americans
afflicted with primary and secondary
lymphedema.
The
Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662, is
designed to
improve patient care and reduce costs associated with
complications related to lymphedema.
Lymphedema, also known as
lymphatic obstruction, is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue
swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic
system.
Kissell introduced the legislation after meeting with
constituent Heather Ferguson, whose son Dylan,
suffers from primary
lymphedema. Ferguson, who lives in Charlotte, has been active in working to
raise
awareness of the disease and to help alleviate the troubles
lymphedema sufferers have getting insurance
to cover
treatment.
“I was moved by Heather’s story, and all she has gone
through to ensure that her son receives this
important treatment.
Her dedication to helping others in the same situation has inspired me to help
her in
her quest to make sure lymphedema patients have an
opportunity to receive treatment,” Kissell said.
“This preventative
treatment will help improve life for many people throughout this
country.”
Ferguson has worked with North Carolina Representative
Tricia Cotham to get legislation through the
North Carolina General
Assembly to help patients in the state. But Ferguson wanted to help all
patients
suffering from lymphedema. She contacted Kissell, whom
she’d met before he was elected, and asked
him to help her bring
the fight national.
“When my insurance company agreed to cover
my son’s treatment for a year, I was shocked and so
discouraged. I
asked if they would offer this opportunity to other policy holders and they
said no. I
realized that I would be fighting with insurance
companies to ensure Dylan could receive treatment for
my entire
life and then, for Dylan’s entire life. It wasn’t enough to get our insurance
company to cover it,
I wanted to fix the problem,” Ferguson said.
“I am so lucky that my own representatives, both state and
national, have been so responsive to my efforts. I never expected this
to happen so quickly, and am so
thankful to Congressman Kissell for
his quick response to this. It has renewed my faith in the political
system
to know that my representatives are there to listen to their
constituents.”
The treatment for lymphedema is known as complex
decongestive therapy. The treatment is used world-
wide, is not
experimental, and has been used for decades with proven success. Not all
components of
the treatment fall under the categories for which
Medicare typically provide coverage. With treatment,
patients can
live long, healthy and virtually normal lives. However, without treatment, the
disease can
progressively worsen, causing severe disfigurement,
disability, pain and in some cases, even death.
June 10,
2010:
Fuschillo Announces Final Legislative Approval Of
Legislation Assisting People With Lymphedema -
June 10,
2010
(New York, N.Y.)-Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th
Senate District) announced that the State
Senate has approved
legislation he sponsors that will make information about lymphatic diseases
more
readily available to New Yorkers suffering from these diseases.
The State Assembly has also passed
the bill which now goes to
Governor Paterson for consideration.
Senator Fuschillo, said, “A
diagnosis of lymphedema can be frightening and confusing. Many people
are unfamiliar with the symptoms and recommended treatments. This
proposed law would ensure that
patients with lymphedema can more
easily access information that could help them cope and seek
treatment.”
“On behalf of our organization 1 in 9: The
Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition and the
lymphedema
patients we serve, we thank Senator Charles Fuschillo for introducing this
bill. With no
budgetary impact, this bill will now allow those who
need to find help and information on the impact that
lymphedema can
have on an individual’s life. When we hear someone’s cry for help who does not
know where to turn, we can now afford then the hope they deserve by
directing them to the
Department of Health website’s links to the
National Lymphedema and Lymphatic Disease
Organization,” said Geri
Barish, President of 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action
Coalition.
Senator Fuschillo’s bill (S.
629-A):
Requires the New York State Department of Health (DOH)
to provide wellness education and
outreach programs regarding
lymphatic diseases including primary lymphedema, secondary
lymphedema, lymphatic disease prevention, early diagnosis, options for
treatment and therapy, long-
term chronic care, the value of early
detection, and other relevant information;
Requires DOH to
link through the department’s website to national lymphedema and lymphatic
disease
organizations;
Includes lymphatic diseases in
the definition of “children with physical disabilities,” so that they may
receive appropriate attention and care to address any special
needs.
Lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the
interstitial tissue that causes swelling, most
often in the arm(s)
or leg(s), and occasionally in other parts of the body. Lymphedema can develop
when lymphatic vessels are missing or impaired (primary), or when
lymph vessels are damaged or
lymph nodes removed
(secondary).
Radiation therapy, used in the treatment of various
cancers, can damage otherwise healthy lymph nodes
and vessels
causing scar tissue to form which interrupts the normal flow of the lymphatic
fluid.
Untreated, lymphedema can lead to a decrease or loss of
functioning of the limbs, skin breakdown, and
chronic infections.
In the most severe cases, untreated lymphedema can develop into a rare form of
lymphatic cancer.
June 10, 2010 - Peeling Apples
with Lymphedema: One Woman’s Experience After Breast Cancer
Therapy
- By Lynette Summerill -
In 2001, Susan Niebur had a successful
career with NASA. As an astrophysicist, Niebur researched
new
missions to explore planets within our solar system and beyond. But that was
before she heard the
terrifying words, “You have breast
cancer.”
Shortly after the birth of her second baby, Niebur, who
lives near Washington D.C., was diagnosed
with inflammatory breast
cancer (IBC). It was June 16, 2007, just three weeks after her mother-in-law
was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, another kind of
breast cancer. After spending ten
months in chemotherapy, radiation
and recovering from a double mastectomy, Niebur learned she
would
have to deal with a side effect of her surgery and radiation treatments called
lymphedema— the
swelling of her arms, hands and chest— for the rest
of her life. She was just 37.
She was referred to a lymphedema
therapist at the time of her double mastectomy and right axillary
dissection because of the large number of lymph nodes that would have
to be removed. IBC is a fast
growing, highly invasive
cancer.
During her preventative meeting with a woman named
Bretta, her primary therapist, Niebur was given
prevention and
treatment information, which she read with conviction. But when her right arm
began to
swell about a month after surgery, it caused a reaction
even Niebur didn’t expect.
“I freaked out,” she said.
“Activities that were commonplace in my life before my surgery now spelt
trouble. I can’t wear rings or watches, carry a purse, or get a
manicure. Getting a mosquito bite or
paper cut is now considered
dangerous, and worse, I was told that I couldn’t ever pick up my children
with my right arm again.”
Approximately 10 million
Americans have lymphedema following cancer treatment, recurrent infections,
injuries or vascular surgery. According to the National Cancer Institute
(NCI), between six and 30
percent of breast cancer survivors suffer
with breast cancer-related lymphedema or BCRL. The range
of women
with BCRL is large due to the fact that many women are unaware that lymphedema
is a side
effect of their cancer treatment, so they may never seek
treatment for it, and tracking BCRL is not
currently
required.
July 14, 2010 from Heather
The big news
from the past two weeks...
HR 4662 has picked up the support of
the Colon Cancer Alliance and that of doctors Ferrell and
Finegold
who are conducting the Lymphedema Study at the University of Pittsburgh!
(Please consider
participating in the study - more info at
http://www.hgen.pitt.edu/projects/lymph/.)
We also have three
new co-sponsors bringing our total to 36 - you can see who all of our
co-sponsors
are on the chart below.
If your
Representative is not yet among them please read this synopsis written by
Jacqueline Hart
Swanson - she is the person directly and solely
responsible for getting her Representative, Kathy
Dahlkemper, to
co-sponsor HR 4662. I am sure there are people receiving this who think, good
grief,
when is Heather going to stop hounding us to contact our
members of Congress. But for all those who
have already done so I
am certain, that for whatever reason, many more still have not. I asked her to
share her story in the hopes that it would prompt others to stop
doubting the power of one single
ordinary person to make a
difference.
Instructions and email addresses for sending your
letters are at the conclusion of this message and the
informational
package to include is attached.
Many thanks for your continued
help and support - Heather Ferguson,
[email protected]
Jacqueline's message...
As a
secondary Lymphedema (upper left arm and hand) patient for the past 11 years, I
had basically
given up on support or interest of any kind. Then I
was hospitalized with cellulitus for a couple of days
in April and
started MLD again. My physical therapist handed me the information on HR 4662
(LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS and TREATMENT COST SAVING ACT), and the
wheels started
turning again. She asked me to contact our local
Congresswoman to ask her to co-sponsor the bill.
I am not a
political activist in any shape or form, so I was a bit apprehensive and
intimidated contacting
her. I decided to “cold call” at her local
office, as I don’t live near Washington , DC . I stopped and
made a
couple of copies of the bill, copies of “what is Lymphedema”, what causes it,
and a couple of
photos of what it was. I didn’t have my arm
wrapped nor was I wearing my garments, as I wanted
them to see what
I was talking about. I left the info and made an appointment for the following
week. I
sent a letter to all of my email contacts that might also
contact my local congresswoman, my family and
friends have been
sympathetic but have not really ever gotten involved in the whole issue. I
gave them
the email addresses of the local congresswoman, her chief
of staff and the health aide…….many of my
contacts did send a note
to ask for co-sponsorship.
The following week, I met with the
District Director, took garments and again, didn’t wrap, but brought
a
little more info, along with quotes of what the new garments and equipment will
cost. She listened and
asked many questions, I was actually given
45 minutes so I was able to educate her a bit. A couple of
other
staff members were there and she brought them in as no one knew about or ever
heard of
Lymphedema. They suggested if I wanted to meet with the
Congresswoman personally, I could drive
to another office (35 miles
away) and I would be given 10 minutes to state my case, as she was not
planning on being in the local office for several weeks. They were not
the least bit encouraging, as it’s
an election year, and I’m not a
member of her party, but I was still hopeful..The next day I met with the
Congresswoman, talked as fast as I could and pleaded with her to
co-sponsor the bill. I mentioned a
few people we knew in common and
thanked her for the work she is doing for our community. That
was
Saturday, on Monday morning I received a call from her Health Aide to tell me
personally that the
Congresswoman decided to co-sponsor the bill.
I literally jumped for joy and thanked her over and
over, then
called Heather to give her the great news. I was sincerely thrilled. See what
“one voice” can
do.
I had expected to be knocking on doors
and writing letters all summer long, it was not necessary. If
you
can please do this, Heather Ferguson ’s tremendous spearheading of this bill
will help it to be
passed. Whether you or a friend/family member
have this, it will help defray some of the costs involved
and also
it will open the eyes of many to our “orphan ailment”.
Talking
points for your letters to Congress
Specific goals of the bill
are:
· to provide diagnosis and treatment of individuals with
and at risk for lymphedema according to
current medical treatment
standards, including manual lymph drainage, compression bandages,
garments, devices, and exercise;
· to enhance quality of
lymphedema patient care by providing therapist qualification
requirements;
· to provide for lymphedema patient education in
the procedures for self-treatment so as to
transfer the treatment
from the clinical to the home setting;
· to encourage patient
self-treatment plan adherence by providing necessary medical supplies for
use at home;
· to expand patient access to qualified
lymphedema therapy by extending coverage to qualified,
trained
lymphedema therapists who may practice under a qualified physician, physical
therapist or
occupational therapist;
· to reduce
total healthcare costs through avoidance of periodic infections, pain and
disabilities
resulting from this medical
condition;
Additional Information:
· HR 4662 has been
endorsed by 40 organizations, including Live Strong (The Lance Armstrong
Foundation), the National Lymphedema Network, the Colon Cancer
Alliance, Living Beyond Breast
Cancer, the Breast Cancer Network of
Strength and the Komen Advocacy Alliance.
· As of July 1, 2010
HR 4662 has 33 co-sponsors distributed between both parties, both sexes
and spanning all political ideologies.
How to contact
Congress
· Send your email to both the Health
Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff
· State your desire
that your Representative sign on to co-sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010. Explain why they
should support the bill and how
this legislation is of significance
to you personally. The letter should be somewhat brief, to the point,
polite and professional. Conclude by making it clear you anticipate
receiving a response to your inquiry.
· You should
attach the informational packet attached to this email and explain that it was
given to
the attendees of the staff briefing held Wednesday, May
26th. You can also include this link - http:
//www.nortonschool.com/video/discoveryhealth/broadband.html - which is a
video clip that was shown
at the briefing.
was shown at the briefing.
PLEASE NOTE
THE EMAILS HAVE NOT BEEN HYPERLINKED DUE TO COMPLAINTS OF
PEOPLE NOT BEING
ABLE TO CUT AND PASTE.
District
Representative/Senator Senator emails and Lastly aides to senators.
ALABAMA
1 Jo Bonner [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Bobby Bright [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mike Rogers [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Robert B. Aderholt
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Parker Griffith
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Spencer
Bachus [email protected] [email protected]
7
Artur Davis [email protected] [email protected]
ALASKA
At Large Don Young [email protected]
[email protected]
AMERICAN SAMOA
Delegate Eni F. H.
Faleomavaega [email protected] [email protected]
ARIZONA
1 Ann Kirkpatrick [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Trent Franks [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John B. Shadegg
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Ed Pastor
(vacant) [email protected]
5 Harry E. Mitchell
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jeff Flake
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Raúl M.
Grijalva [email protected] [email protected]
8
Gabrielle Giffords [email protected]
[email protected]
ARKANSAS
1 Marion Berry
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Vic Snyder ?
[email protected]
3 John Boozman [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Mike Ross [email protected]
[email protected]
CALIFORNIA
1 Mike Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Wally Herger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel E. Lungren
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom
McClintock [email protected] [email protected]
5 Doris
O. Matsui [email protected] [email protected]
6 Lynn C.
Woolsey [email protected] [email protected]
7 George
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
8 Nancy Pelosi
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Barbara Lee
[email protected] [email protected]
10 John
Garamendi [email protected] [email protected]
11 Jerry
McNerney [email protected] [email protected]
12 Jackie
Speier [email protected] [email protected]
13 Fortney
Pete Stark [email protected] ?
14 Anna G. Eshoo
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Michael
M. Honda [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Zoe Lofgren
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Sam Farr
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Dennis
A. Cardoza [email protected] [email protected]
19
George Radanovich [email protected] [email protected]
20
Jim Costa [email protected] [email protected]
21
Devin Nunes [email protected] [email protected]
22
Kevin McCarthy [email protected] [email protected]
23
Lois Capps [email protected] [email protected]
24
Elton Gallegly [email protected] [email protected]
25
Howard P. "Buck'' McKeon [email protected]
[email protected]
26 David Dreier [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Brad Sherman [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Howard L. Berman
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Adam
B. Schiff [email protected] [email protected]
30
Henry A. Waxman [email protected]
[email protected]
31 Xavier Becerra [email protected]
[email protected]
32 Judy Chu [email protected]
[email protected]
33 Diane E. Watson
[email protected] [email protected]
34 Lucille
Roybal-Allard [email protected] [email protected]
35
Maxine Waters [email protected]
[email protected]
36 Jane Harman [email protected]
[email protected]
37 Laura Richardson
[email protected] [email protected]
38 Grace F.
Napolitano [email protected] [email protected]
39 Linda T.
Sánchez [email protected] [email protected]
40 Edward
R. Royce [email protected] [email protected]
41 Jerry Lewis
[email protected] [email protected]
42 Gary G.
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
43 Joe Baca
[email protected] [email protected]
44 Ken Calvert
[email protected] [email protected]
45 Mary Bono
Mack [email protected] [email protected]
46 Dana
Rohrabacher [email protected]
[email protected]
47 Loretta Sanchez
[email protected] [email protected]
48 John
Campbell [email protected] [email protected]
49 Darrell
E. Issa [email protected] [email protected]
50 Brian
P. Bilbray [email protected] [email protected]
51 Bob
Filner [email protected] [email protected]
52 Duncan
Hunter [email protected] [email protected]
53 Susan A.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
COLORADO
1 Diana DeGette [email protected] [email protected];
Kerry.Bolger@mail.
house.gov
2 Jared Polis
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John T. Salazar
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betsy Markey
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Doug Lamborn
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Mike Coffman
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Ed Perlmutter
[email protected] [email protected]
CONNECTICUT
1 John B. Larson [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Courtney [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Rosa L. DeLauro [email protected]
[email protected]
4 James A. Himes [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Christopher S. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
DELAWARE
At Large Michael N. Castle [email protected]
[email protected]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton [email protected] [email protected]
FLORIDA
1 Jeff Miller [email protected] [email protected]
2
Allen Boyd [email protected] [email protected]
3
Corrine Brown [email protected] [email protected]
4
Ander Crenshaw [email protected] [email protected]
5
Ginny Brown-Waite ? [email protected]
6 Cliff Stearns
[email protected] [email protected]
7 John L. Mica
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Alan Grayson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gus M. Bilirakis
[email protected] [email protected]
10 C. W. Bill Young
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Kathy Castor
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Adam H. Putnam
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Vern
Buchanan [email protected] [email protected]
14
Connie Mack [email protected] [email protected]
15 Bill
Posey [email protected] [email protected]
16
Thomas J. Rooney [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Kendrick B. Meek
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen [email protected] [email protected]
19
Theodore E. Deutch [email protected]
[email protected]
20 Debbie Wasserman Schultz
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Lincoln
Diaz-Balart [email protected] [email protected]
22
Ron Klein [email protected] [email protected]
23 Alcee
L. Hastings [email protected] [email protected]
24 Suzanne
M. Kosmas [email protected] [email protected]
25
Mario Diaz-Balart [email protected]
[email protected]
GEORGIA
1 Jack Kingston
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Sanford D. Bishop
Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
3 Lynn A.
Westmoreland [email protected] [email protected]
4 Henry
C. "Hank'' Johnson Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
5 John Lewis [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Tom Price ?
[email protected]
7 John Linder [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jim Marshall [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Nathan Deal [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Paul C. Broun
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Phil Gingrey
[email protected] [email protected]
12 John Barrow
[email protected] [email protected]
13 David Scott
[email protected] [email protected]
GUAM
Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo [email protected]
[email protected]
HAWAII
1 Charles K. Djou
2
Mazie K. Hirono [email protected]
[email protected]
IDAHO
1 Walt Minnick
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael K. Simpson
[email protected] [email protected]
ILLINOIS
1
Bobby L. Rush [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel
Lipinski [email protected] [email protected]
4 Luis V.
Gutierrez [email protected] [email protected]
5 Mike
Quigley 1 [email protected] [email protected]
6 Peter J.
Roskam [email protected] [email protected]
7 Danny K.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
8 Melissa L.
Bean [email protected] [email protected]
9 Janice
D. Schakowsky [email protected] [email protected]
10
Mark Steven Kirk [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Deborah L. Halvorson
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Jerry F.
Costello [email protected] [email protected]
13
Judy Biggert [email protected] [email protected]
14
Bill Foster [email protected] [email protected]
15
Timothy V. Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Donald A. Manzullo
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Phil Hare
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Aaron Schock
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John Shimkus
[email protected] [email protected]
INDIANA
1
Peter J. Visclosky [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Donnelly [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mark E. Souder [email protected]
Kristin@[email protected]
4 Steve Buyer ?
[email protected]
5 Dan Burton [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Mike Pence [email protected]
[email protected]
7 André Carson [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Brad Ellsworth [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Baron P. Hill [email protected]
[email protected]
IOWA
1 Bruce L. Braley ?
[email protected]
2 David Loebsack [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Leonard L. Boswell
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Latham
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Steve King
[email protected] [email protected]
KANSAS
1
Jerry Moran [email protected] [email protected]
2
Lynn Jenkins [email protected] [email protected]
3
Dennis Moore [email protected] [email protected]
4
Todd Tiahrt [email protected]
[email protected]
KENTUCKY
1 Ed Whitfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Brett Guthrie
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John A. Yarmuth
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Geoff Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Harold
Rogers [email protected] [email protected]
6 Ben Chandler
[email protected] [email protected]
LOUISIANA
1
Steve Scalise [email protected] [email protected]
2 Anh
"Joseph'' Cao [email protected] [email protected]
3
Charlie Melancon [email protected] [email protected]
4
John Fleming [email protected] [email protected]
5
Rodney Alexander [email protected] [email protected]
6
Bill Cassidy [email protected] [email protected]
7
Charles W. Boustany Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
MAINE
1 Chellie Pingree
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael H.
Michaud [email protected] [email protected]
MARYLAND
1 Frank Kratovil Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John P.
Sarbanes [email protected] [email protected]
4 Donna
F. Edwards [email protected] [email protected]
5
Steny H. Hoyer [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Roscoe G. Bartlett
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Elijah E. Cummings
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Chris Van
Hollen [email protected] [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
1 John W. Olver [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Richard E. Neal [email protected]
[email protected]
3 James P. McGovern
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Barney
Frank [email protected]; Maria.Giesta@@mail.house.gov
Diego.Sanchez@mail.
house.gov
5 Niki Tsongas
[email protected] [email protected]
6 John
F. Tierney [email protected] [email protected]
7 Edward
J. Markey [email protected] [email protected]
8 Michael E.
Capuano [email protected] [email protected]
9 Stephen
F. Lynch [email protected] [email protected]
10 Bill
Delahunt [email protected] [email protected]
MICHIGAN
1 Bart Stupak [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Peter Hoekstra
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Vernon J.
Ehlers [email protected] [email protected]
4 Dave Camp
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Dale E. Kildee
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Fred Upton
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mark H. Schauer
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gary C. Peters
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Candice S. Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Thaddeus G. McCotter
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Sander M. Levin
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick [email protected] [email protected]
14 John
Conyers Jr. [email protected] [email protected];
Joel.
[email protected]
15 John D. Dingell
[email protected] ?
MINNESOTA
1 Timothy J. Walz
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John Kline
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Erik Paulsen
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betty
McCollum [email protected] [email protected]
5 Keith
Ellison [email protected] [email protected]
6 Michele Bachmann
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Collin C. Peterson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 James L.
Oberstar [email protected]
[email protected]
MISSISSIPPI
1 Travis W. Childers
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bennie G. Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Gregg Harper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gene Taylor
[email protected] [email protected]
MISSOURI
1
Wm. Lacy Clay [email protected]
[email protected]
2 W. Todd Akin [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Russ Carnahan [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ike Skelton [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Emanuel Cleaver [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Sam Graves [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Roy Blunt [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jo Ann Emerson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Blaine
Luetkemeyer [email protected]
[email protected]
MONTANA
At Large Denny Rehberg
[email protected] [email protected]
NEBRASKA
1 Jeff
Fortenberry [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Lee Terry [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Adrian Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
NEVADA
1 Shelley Berkley
[email protected] ?
2 Dean Heller [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Dina Titus [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1 Carol Shea-Porter
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Paul W. Hodes
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW JERSEY
1
Robert E. Andrews [email protected] [email protected]
2
Frank A. LoBiondo [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John H. Adler [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Christopher H. Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Scott Garrett [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Frank Pallone Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Leonard Lance
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Bill Pascrell Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Steven R. Rothman
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Donald M. Payne
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen [email protected] [email protected]
12
Rush D. Holt ? [email protected]
13 Albio Sires
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW MEXICO
1 Martin Heinrich [email protected] [email protected]
2
Harry Teague [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ben
Ray Luján [email protected] [email protected]
NEW YORK
1 Timothy H. Bishop [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Steve Israel [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Peter T. King [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Carolyn McCarthy
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Gary L.
Ackerman [email protected] [email protected]
6 Gregory
W. Meeks [email protected] [email protected]
7 Joseph
Crowley [email protected] [email protected]
8 Jerrold
Nadler [email protected] [email protected]
9 Anthony D.
Weiner [email protected] [email protected]
10 Edolphus Towns
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Yvette D.
Clarke (vacant) [email protected]
12 Nydia M. Velázquez
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Michael E. McMahon
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Carolyn
B. Maloney [email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles
B. Rangel [email protected] [email protected]
16 José E.
Serrano [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Eliot L. Engel [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Nita M. Lowey
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John J. Hall
[email protected] [email protected]
20 Scott Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Paul Tonko
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Maurice D.
Hinchey [email protected] [email protected]
23 William
L. Owens [email protected] [email protected]
24 Michael
A. Arcuri [email protected] [email protected]
25 Daniel
B. Maffei [email protected] [email protected]
26
Christopher John Lee [email protected] [email protected]
27 Brian Higgins [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Louise McIntosh Slaughter
[email protected] ?
29 Eric J. J. Massa [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
1 G. K. Butterfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bob Etheridge
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Walter B.
Jones [email protected] [email protected]
4 David
E. Price [email protected] [email protected]
5
Virginia Foxx [email protected] [email protected]
6
Howard Coble [email protected] [email protected]
7 Mike
McIntyre [email protected] [email protected]
8 Larry
Kissell [email protected] [email protected]
9 Sue
Wilkins Myrick [email protected] [email protected]
10
Patrick T. McHenry [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Heath Shuler [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Melvin L. Watt [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Brad Miller [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Kay Hagan [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Richard Burr Chris
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA
At Large
Earl Pomeroy [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Delegate
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [email protected]
[email protected].
gov
OHIO
1 Steve Driehaus
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jean Schmidt
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Michael R. Turner
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jim Jordan
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Robert E. Latta
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Charles A. Wilson
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Steve Austria
[email protected] [email protected]
8 John A.
Boehner [email protected] [email protected]
9
Marcy Kaptur [email protected] [email protected]
10 Dennis
J. Kucinich [email protected] [email protected]
11 Marcia
L. Fudge [email protected] [email protected]
12 Patrick
J. Tiberi [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Betty Sutton
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Steven C.
LaTourette [email protected] [email protected]
15 Mary Jo
Kilroy [email protected] [email protected]
16
John A. Boccieri [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Tim Ryan [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Zachary T. Space
[email protected] [email protected]
OKLAHOMA
1
John Sullivan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Dan Boren [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Frank D. Lucas
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Cole
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Mary Fallin
[email protected] [email protected]
OREGON
1
David Wu [email protected] [email protected]
2 Greg
Walden [email protected] [email protected]
3 Earl
Blumenauer [email protected] [email protected]
4 Peter
A. DeFazio [email protected] [email protected]
5 Kurt Schrader
[email protected] [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
1
Robert A. Brady [email protected] [email protected]
2
Chaka Fattah [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Kathleen A. Dahlkemper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jason Altmire
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Glenn Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jim Gerlach
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Joe Sestak
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Patrick J. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Bill Shuster
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Christopher P.
Carney [email protected] [email protected]
11 Paul E.
Kanjorski [email protected] [email protected]
12 Mark
S. Critz (vacant) (vacant)
13 Allyson Y. Schwartz
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Michael F. Doyle
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles W. Dent
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Joseph R.
Pitts [email protected] [email protected]
17 Tim
Holden [email protected] [email protected]
18 Tim
Murphy [email protected] [email protected]
19 Todd
Russell Platts [email protected]
[email protected]
PUERTO RICO
Delegate Pedro R.
Pierluisi [email protected]
[email protected]
RHODE ISLAND
1 Patrick J. Kennedy
[email protected] [email protected]
2 James R. Langevin
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA
1 Henry E. Brown Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Wilson [email protected]
[email protected]
3 J. Gresham Barrett
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Bob Inglis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 John M. Spratt Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
6 James E. Clyburn
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH
DAKOTA
At Large Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [email protected]
[email protected]
TENNESSEE
1 David P. Roe
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John J. Duncan Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Zach Wamp
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Lincoln Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Jim Cooper
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Bart Gordon
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Marsha
Blackburn [email protected] [email protected]
8 John
S. Tanner [email protected] [email protected]
9 Steve
Cohen [email protected] [email protected]
TEXAS
1 Louie Gohmert [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Ted Poe [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Sam Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ralph M. Hall [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Jeb Hensarling [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Joe Barton [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Abney Culberson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Kevin Brady
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Al Green
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Michael T.
McCaul [email protected] [email protected]
11 K. Michael
Conaway [email protected] [email protected]
12 Kay
Granger [email protected] [email protected]
13 Mac
Thornberry [email protected] [email protected]
14 Ron
Paul [email protected] [email protected]
15 Rubén
Hinojosa [email protected] [email protected]
16
Silvestre Reyes [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Chet Edwards
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Sheila
Jackson Lee [email protected] [email protected]
19 Randy
Neugebauer [email protected] [email protected]
20
Charles A. Gonzalez [email protected] [email protected]
21
Lamar Smith [email protected] [email protected]
22
Pete Olson [email protected] [email protected]
23
Ciro D. Rodriguez [email protected] [email protected]
24
Kenny Marchant [email protected]
[email protected]
25 Lloyd Doggett
[email protected] [email protected]
26
Michael C. Burgess [email protected] ?
27 Solomon P. Ortiz
[email protected] [email protected]
28 Henry Cuellar
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Gene Green
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Eddie
Bernice Johnson [email protected] ?
31 John R. Carter
[email protected] [email protected]
32 Pete Sessions
[email protected] [email protected]
UTAH
1 Rob
Bishop [email protected] [email protected]
2 Jim
Matheson [email protected] [email protected]
3 Jason
Chaffetz [email protected] [email protected]
VERMONT
At Large Peter Welch [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Delegate Donna M.
Christensen [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGINIA
1 Robert J. Wittman
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Glenn C. Nye
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Robert C.
"Bobby'' Scott [email protected] [email protected]
4 J.
Randy Forbes [email protected] [email protected]
5
Thomas S. P. Perriello [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Bob Goodlatte [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Eric Cantor [email protected]
[email protected]
8 James P. Moran [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Rick Boucher [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Frank R. Wolf [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Gerald E. Connolly
[email protected] [email protected]
WASHINGTON
1 Jay Inslee [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Rick Larsen [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Brian Baird [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Doc Hastings [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Norman D. Dicks
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Jim McDermott
[email protected] [email protected]
8 David G. Reichert
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Adam Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA
1 Alan B. Mollohan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Shelley Moore Capito
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Nick J. Rahall II
[email protected] [email protected]
WISCONSIN
1 Paul
Ryan [email protected] [email protected]
2 Tammy
Baldwin [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ron Kind
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gwen Moore
[email protected] [email protected]
5 F. James
Sensenbrenner Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
6
Thomas E. Petri [email protected]
[email protected]
7 David R. Obey
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Steve Kagen
? ?
WYOMING
At Large Cynthia M. Lummis [email protected]
[email protected]
District
Representative/Senator (names in blue have co-sponsored) Chief
of
Staff
(FirstName.LastName@...) Health Legislative
Aide
(FirstName.LastName@...)
ALABAMA
1 Jo Bonner
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bobby Bright
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
4
Robert B. Aderholt [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Parker Griffith
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Spencer
Bachus [email protected] [email protected]
7
Artur Davis [email protected] [email protected]
ALASKA
At Large Don Young [email protected]
[email protected]
AMERICAN SAMOA
Delegate Eni F. H.
Faleomavaega [email protected] [email protected]
ARIZONA
1 Ann Kirkpatrick [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Trent Franks [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John B. Shadegg
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Ed Pastor
(vacant) [email protected]
5 Harry E. Mitchell
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jeff Flake
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Raúl M.
Grijalva [email protected] [email protected]
8
Gabrielle Giffords [email protected]
[email protected]
ARKANSAS
1 Marion Berry
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Vic Snyder ?
[email protected]
3 John Boozman [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Mike Ross [email protected]
[email protected]
CALIFORNIA
1 Mike Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Wally Herger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel E. Lungren
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom
McClintock [email protected] [email protected]
5 Doris
O. Matsui [email protected] [email protected]
6 Lynn C.
Woolsey [email protected] [email protected]
7 George
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
8 Nancy Pelosi
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Barbara Lee
[email protected] [email protected]
10 John
Garamendi [email protected] [email protected]
11 Jerry
McNerney [email protected] [email protected]
12 Jackie
Speier [email protected] [email protected]
13 Fortney
Pete Stark [email protected] ?
14 Anna G. Eshoo
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Michael
M. Honda [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Zoe Lofgren
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Sam Farr
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Dennis
A. Cardoza [email protected] [email protected]
19
George Radanovich [email protected] [email protected]
20
Jim Costa [email protected] [email protected]
21
Devin Nunes [email protected] [email protected]
22
Kevin McCarthy [email protected] [email protected]
23
Lois Capps [email protected] [email protected]
24
Elton Gallegly [email protected] [email protected]
25
Howard P. "Buck'' McKeon [email protected]
[email protected]
26 David Dreier [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Brad Sherman [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Howard L. Berman
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Adam
B. Schiff [email protected] [email protected]
30
Henry A. Waxman [email protected]
[email protected]
31 Xavier Becerra [email protected]
[email protected]
32 Judy Chu [email protected]
[email protected]
33 Diane E. Watson
[email protected] [email protected]
34 Lucille
Roybal-Allard [email protected] [email protected]
35
Maxine Waters [email protected]
[email protected]
36 Jane Harman [email protected]
[email protected]
37 Laura Richardson
[email protected] [email protected]
38 Grace F.
Napolitano [email protected] [email protected]
39 Linda T.
Sánchez [email protected] [email protected]
40 Edward
R. Royce [email protected] [email protected]
41 Jerry Lewis
[email protected] [email protected]
42 Gary G.
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
43 Joe Baca
[email protected] [email protected]
44 Ken Calvert
[email protected] [email protected]
45 Mary Bono
Mack [email protected] [email protected]
46 Dana
Rohrabacher [email protected]
[email protected]
47 Loretta Sanchez
[email protected] [email protected]
48 John
Campbell [email protected] [email protected]
49 Darrell
E. Issa [email protected] [email protected]
50 Brian
P. Bilbray [email protected] [email protected]
51 Bob
Filner [email protected] [email protected]
52 Duncan
Hunter [email protected] [email protected]
53 Susan A.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
COLORADO
1 Diana DeGette [email protected] [email protected];
Kerry.Bolger@mail.
house.gov
2 Jared Polis
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John T. Salazar
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betsy Markey
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Doug Lamborn
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Mike Coffman
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Ed Perlmutter
[email protected] [email protected]
CONNECTICUT
1 John B. Larson [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Courtney [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Rosa L. DeLauro [email protected]
[email protected]
4 James A. Himes [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Christopher S. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
DELAWARE
At Large Michael N. Castle [email protected]
[email protected]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton [email protected] [email protected]
FLORIDA
1 Jeff Miller [email protected] [email protected]
2
Allen Boyd [email protected] [email protected]
3
Corrine Brown [email protected] [email protected]
4
Ander Crenshaw [email protected] [email protected]
5
Ginny Brown-Waite ? [email protected]
6 Cliff Stearns
[email protected] [email protected]
7 John L. Mica
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Alan Grayson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gus M. Bilirakis
[email protected] [email protected]
10 C. W. Bill Young
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Kathy Castor
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Adam H. Putnam
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Vern
Buchanan [email protected] [email protected]
14
Connie Mack [email protected] [email protected]
15 Bill
Posey [email protected] [email protected]
16
Thomas J. Rooney [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Kendrick B. Meek
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen [email protected] [email protected]
19
Theodore E. Deutch [email protected]
[email protected]
20 Debbie Wasserman Schultz
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Lincoln
Diaz-Balart [email protected] [email protected]
22
Ron Klein [email protected] [email protected]
23 Alcee
L. Hastings [email protected] [email protected]
24 Suzanne
M. Kosmas [email protected] [email protected]
25
Mario Diaz-Balart [email protected]
[email protected]
GEORGIA
1 Jack Kingston
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Sanford D. Bishop
Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
3 Lynn A.
Westmoreland [email protected] [email protected]
4 Henry
C. "Hank'' Johnson Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
5 John Lewis [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Tom Price ?
[email protected]
7 John Linder [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jim Marshall [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Nathan Deal [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Paul C. Broun
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Phil Gingrey
[email protected] [email protected]
12 John Barrow
[email protected] [email protected]
13 David Scott
[email protected] [email protected]
GUAM
Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo [email protected]
[email protected]
HAWAII
1 Charles K. Djou
2
Mazie K. Hirono [email protected]
[email protected]
IDAHO
1 Walt Minnick
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael K. Simpson
[email protected] [email protected]
ILLINOIS
1
Bobby L. Rush [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel
Lipinski [email protected] [email protected]
4 Luis V.
Gutierrez [email protected] [email protected]
5 Mike
Quigley 1 [email protected] [email protected]
6 Peter J.
Roskam [email protected] [email protected]
7 Danny K.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
8 Melissa L.
Bean [email protected] [email protected]
9 Janice
D. Schakowsky [email protected] [email protected]
10
Mark Steven Kirk [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Deborah L. Halvorson
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Jerry F.
Costello [email protected] [email protected]
13
Judy Biggert [email protected] [email protected]
14
Bill Foster [email protected] [email protected]
15
Timothy V. Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Donald A. Manzullo
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Phil Hare
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Aaron Schock
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John Shimkus
[email protected] [email protected]
INDIANA
1
Peter J. Visclosky [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Donnelly [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mark E. Souder [email protected]
Kristin@[email protected]
4 Steve Buyer ?
[email protected]
5 Dan Burton [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Mike Pence [email protected]
[email protected]
7 André Carson [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Brad Ellsworth [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Baron P. Hill [email protected]
[email protected]
IOWA
1 Bruce L. Braley ?
[email protected]
2 David Loebsack [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Leonard L. Boswell
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Latham
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Steve King
[email protected] [email protected]
KANSAS
1
Jerry Moran [email protected] [email protected]
2
Lynn Jenkins [email protected] [email protected]
3
Dennis Moore [email protected] [email protected]
4
Todd Tiahrt [email protected]
[email protected]
KENTUCKY
1 Ed Whitfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Brett Guthrie
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John A. Yarmuth
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Geoff Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Harold
Rogers [email protected] [email protected]
6 Ben Chandler
[email protected] [email protected]
LOUISIANA
1
Steve Scalise [email protected] [email protected]
2 Anh
"Joseph'' Cao [email protected] [email protected]
3
Charlie Melancon [email protected] [email protected]
4
John Fleming [email protected] [email protected]
5
Rodney Alexander [email protected] [email protected]
6
Bill Cassidy [email protected] [email protected]
7
Charles W. Boustany Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
MAINE
1 Chellie Pingree
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael H.
Michaud [email protected] [email protected]
MARYLAND
1 Frank Kratovil Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John P.
Sarbanes [email protected] [email protected]
4 Donna
F. Edwards [email protected] [email protected]
5
Steny H. Hoyer [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Roscoe G. Bartlett
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Elijah E. Cummings
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Chris Van
Hollen [email protected] [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
1 John W. Olver [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Richard E. Neal [email protected]
[email protected]
3 James P. McGovern
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Barney
Frank [email protected]; Maria.Giesta@@mail.house.gov
Diego.Sanchez@mail.
house.gov
5 Niki Tsongas
[email protected] [email protected]
6 John
F. Tierney [email protected] [email protected]
7 Edward
J. Markey [email protected] [email protected]
8 Michael E.
Capuano [email protected] [email protected]
9 Stephen
F. Lynch [email protected] [email protected]
10 Bill
Delahunt [email protected] [email protected]
MICHIGAN
1 Bart Stupak [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Peter Hoekstra
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Vernon J.
Ehlers [email protected] [email protected]
4 Dave Camp
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Dale E. Kildee
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Fred Upton
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mark H. Schauer
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gary C. Peters
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Candice S. Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Thaddeus G. McCotter
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Sander M. Levin
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick [email protected] [email protected]
14 John
Conyers Jr. [email protected] [email protected];
Joel.
[email protected]
15 John D. Dingell
[email protected] ?
MINNESOTA
1 Timothy J. Walz
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John Kline
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Erik Paulsen
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betty
McCollum [email protected] [email protected]
5 Keith
Ellison [email protected] [email protected]
6 Michele Bachmann
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Collin C. Peterson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 James L.
Oberstar [email protected]
[email protected]
MISSISSIPPI
1 Travis W. Childers
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bennie G. Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Gregg Harper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gene Taylor
[email protected] [email protected]
MISSOURI
1
Wm. Lacy Clay [email protected]
[email protected]
2 W. Todd Akin [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Russ Carnahan [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ike Skelton [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Emanuel Cleaver [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Sam Graves [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Roy Blunt [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jo Ann Emerson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Blaine
Luetkemeyer [email protected]
[email protected]
MONTANA
At Large Denny Rehberg
[email protected] [email protected]
NEBRASKA
1 Jeff
Fortenberry [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Lee Terry [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Adrian Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
NEVADA
1 Shelley Berkley
[email protected] ?
2 Dean Heller [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Dina Titus [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1 Carol Shea-Porter
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Paul W. Hodes
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW JERSEY
1
Robert E. Andrews [email protected] [email protected]
2
Frank A. LoBiondo [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John H. Adler [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Christopher H. Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Scott Garrett [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Frank Pallone Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Leonard Lance
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Bill Pascrell Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Steven R. Rothman
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Donald M. Payne
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen [email protected] [email protected]
12
Rush D. Holt ? [email protected]
13 Albio Sires
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW MEXICO
1 Martin Heinrich [email protected] [email protected]
2
Harry Teague [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ben
Ray Luján [email protected] [email protected]
NEW YORK
1 Timothy H. Bishop [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Steve Israel [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Peter T. King [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Carolyn McCarthy
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Gary L.
Ackerman [email protected] [email protected]
6 Gregory
W. Meeks [email protected] [email protected]
7 Joseph
Crowley [email protected] [email protected]
8 Jerrold
Nadler [email protected] [email protected]
9 Anthony D.
Weiner [email protected] [email protected]
10 Edolphus Towns
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Yvette D.
Clarke (vacant) [email protected]
12 Nydia M. Velázquez
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Michael E. McMahon
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Carolyn
B. Maloney [email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles
B. Rangel [email protected] [email protected]
16 José E.
Serrano [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Eliot L. Engel [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Nita M. Lowey
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John J. Hall
[email protected] [email protected]
20 Scott Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Paul Tonko
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Maurice D.
Hinchey [email protected] [email protected]
23 William
L. Owens [email protected] [email protected]
24 Michael
A. Arcuri [email protected] [email protected]
25 Daniel
B. Maffei [email protected] [email protected]
26
Christopher John Lee [email protected] [email protected]
27 Brian Higgins [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Louise McIntosh Slaughter
[email protected] ?
29 Eric J. J. Massa [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
1 G. K. Butterfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bob Etheridge
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Walter B.
Jones [email protected] [email protected]
4 David
E. Price [email protected] [email protected]
5
Virginia Foxx [email protected] [email protected]
6
Howard Coble [email protected] [email protected]
7 Mike
McIntyre [email protected] [email protected]
8 Larry
Kissell [email protected] [email protected]
9 Sue
Wilkins Myrick [email protected] [email protected]
10
Patrick T. McHenry [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Heath Shuler [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Melvin L. Watt [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Brad Miller [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Kay Hagan [email protected]
[email protected]
Senate Richard Burr Chris
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA
At Large
Earl Pomeroy [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Delegate
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [email protected]
[email protected].
gov
OHIO
1 Steve Driehaus
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jean Schmidt
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Michael R. Turner
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jim Jordan
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Robert E. Latta
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Charles A. Wilson
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Steve Austria
[email protected] [email protected]
8 John A.
Boehner [email protected] [email protected]
9
Marcy Kaptur [email protected] [email protected]
10 Dennis
J. Kucinich [email protected] [email protected]
11 Marcia
L. Fudge [email protected] [email protected]
12 Patrick
J. Tiberi [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Betty Sutton
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Steven C.
LaTourette [email protected] [email protected]
15 Mary Jo
Kilroy [email protected] [email protected]
16
John A. Boccieri [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Tim Ryan [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Zachary T. Space
[email protected] [email protected]
OKLAHOMA
1
John Sullivan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Dan Boren [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Frank D. Lucas
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Cole
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Mary Fallin
[email protected] [email protected]
OREGON
1
David Wu [email protected] [email protected]
2 Greg
Walden [email protected] [email protected]
3 Earl
Blumenauer [email protected] [email protected]
4 Peter
A. DeFazio [email protected] [email protected]
5 Kurt Schrader
[email protected] [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
1
Robert A. Brady [email protected] [email protected]
2
Chaka Fattah [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Kathleen A. Dahlkemper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jason Altmire
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Glenn Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jim Gerlach
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Joe Sestak
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Patrick J. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Bill Shuster
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Christopher P.
Carney [email protected] [email protected]
11 Paul E.
Kanjorski [email protected] [email protected]
12 Mark
S. Critz (vacant) (vacant)
13 Allyson Y. Schwartz
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Michael F. Doyle
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles W. Dent
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Joseph R.
Pitts [email protected] [email protected]
17 Tim
Holden [email protected] [email protected]
18 Tim
Murphy [email protected] [email protected]
19 Todd
Russell Platts [email protected]
[email protected]
PUERTO RICO
Delegate Pedro R.
Pierluisi [email protected]
[email protected]
RHODE ISLAND
1 Patrick J. Kennedy
[email protected] [email protected]
2 James R. Langevin
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA
1 Henry E. Brown Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Wilson [email protected]
[email protected]
3 J. Gresham Barrett
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Bob Inglis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 John M. Spratt Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
6 James E. Clyburn
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH
DAKOTA
At Large Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [email protected]
[email protected]
TENNESSEE
1 David P. Roe
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John J. Duncan Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Zach Wamp
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Lincoln Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Jim Cooper
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Bart Gordon
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Marsha
Blackburn [email protected] [email protected]
8 John
S. Tanner [email protected] [email protected]
9 Steve
Cohen [email protected] [email protected]
TEXAS
1 Louie Gohmert [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Ted Poe [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Sam Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ralph M. Hall [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Jeb Hensarling [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Joe Barton [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Abney Culberson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Kevin Brady
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Al Green
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Michael T.
McCaul [email protected] [email protected]
11 K. Michael
Conaway [email protected] [email protected]
12 Kay
Granger [email protected] [email protected]
13 Mac
Thornberry [email protected] [email protected]
14 Ron
Paul [email protected] [email protected]
15 Rubén
Hinojosa [email protected] [email protected]
16
Silvestre Reyes [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Chet Edwards
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Sheila
Jackson Lee [email protected] [email protected]
19 Randy
Neugebauer [email protected] [email protected]
20
Charles A. Gonzalez [email protected] [email protected]
21
Lamar Smith [email protected] [email protected]
22
Pete Olson [email protected] [email protected]
23
Ciro D. Rodriguez [email protected] [email protected]
24
Kenny Marchant [email protected]
[email protected]
25 Lloyd Doggett
[email protected] [email protected]
26
Michael C. Burgess [email protected] ?
27 Solomon P. Ortiz
[email protected] [email protected]
28 Henry Cuellar
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Gene Green
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Eddie
Bernice Johnson [email protected] ?
31 John R. Carter
[email protected] [email protected]
32 Pete Sessions
[email protected] [email protected]
UTAH
1 Rob
Bishop [email protected] [email protected]
2 Jim
Matheson [email protected] [email protected]
3 Jason
Chaffetz [email protected] [email protected]
VERMONT
At Large Peter Welch [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Delegate Donna M.
Christensen [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGINIA
1 Robert J. Wittman
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Glenn C. Nye
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Robert C.
"Bobby'' Scott [email protected] [email protected]
4 J.
Randy Forbes [email protected] [email protected]
5
Thomas S. P. Perriello [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Bob Goodlatte [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Eric Cantor [email protected]
[email protected]
8 James P. Moran [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Rick Boucher [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Frank R. Wolf [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Gerald E. Connolly
[email protected] [email protected]
WASHINGTON
1 Jay Inslee [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Rick Larsen [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Brian Baird [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Doc Hastings [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Norman D. Dicks
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Jim McDermott
[email protected] [email protected]
8 David G. Reichert
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Adam Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA
1 Alan B. Mollohan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Shelley Moore Capito
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Nick J. Rahall II
[email protected] [email protected]
WISCONSIN
1 Paul
Ryan [email protected] [email protected]
2 Tammy
Baldwin [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ron Kind
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gwen Moore
[email protected] [email protected]
5 F. James
Sensenbrenner Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
6
Thomas E. Petri [email protected]
[email protected]
7 David R. Obey
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Steve Kagen
? ?
WYOMING
At Large Cynthia M. Lummis [email protected]
[email protected]
---------------------------------------
Thanks
to the herculean efforts of the coalition of patients, therapists, advocates,
educators, and
industry professionals who went to Washington DC
this week to speak to Congressional
Representatives and Senators
about supporting H.R. 4662, the bill now has six new co-sponsors,
bringing to total to 20 with more expected in the next few weeks! We
are definitely gaining momentum.
If you have not already done so,
please contact your Representative and Senators to urge support for
the bill. You may find more information about the bill and how to
contact your legislators at:
http://www.nortonschool.com/hr4662.html
Thank
you!
----------------------------
Our trip to DC last week
was outstanding! Over the course of two days 10 advocates from around the
country met with over 30 individual offices and conducted a staff
briefing with an impressive 32
attendees. My sincerest thanks to
all of you who were persistent in your efforts to ensure your
Representative’s office sent a staff member.
Now is the time
to maximize the effectiveness of our efforts on this trip. We already have 7
more co-
sponsors as a direct result of our visit! That puts us at
22 co-sponsors to date (see list at end of
message.) Please make
every effort to follow up with your Representative's office as described below
as soon as possible.
If you are receiving this by forward,
blog post, etc, and the attachment is missing, please let me know so
that
I can send it to you directly. Thank you so much – Heather Ferguson,
[email protected].
What you need to do next:
Please call your
Representative’s DC office – you can look up the number at
http://clerk.house.
gov/member_info/index.html.
Express
your desire that they sign on to co-sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema Diagnosis
and
Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010. Ask if they had a staff
member at the briefing on Wednesday,
May 26th, and if they did not
offer to send them additional information. Ask for an email address so
that you may send them the packet which was given to all briefing
attendees – that is the attached PDF
file. Since the packet is 33
pages it would not be practical to print and send it by fax or US mail, plus,
once you have an email address it will make all of your future
correspondence much easier. You can
also include this link -
http://www.nortonschool.com/video/discoveryhealth/broadband.html - which is a
video clip that was shown at the briefing. When it comes to
lymphedema a picture really is worth 1000
words!
If you are
unable to obtain an email address by calling let me know ([email protected])
and I will get
one for you.
Co-sponsors as of May
31st:
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 5/27/2010
Rep Bishop, Sanford
D., Jr. [GA-2] - 4/29/2010
Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 5/28/2010
Rep
Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 4/27/2010
Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] -
4/13/2010
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 5/12/2010
Rep Doggett, Lloyd
[TX-25] - 4/21/2010
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 5/27/2010
Rep Frank,
Barney [MA-4] - 4/13/2010
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 4/13/2010
Rep
Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 4/13/2010
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] -
5/27/2010
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 4/27/2010
Rep McCollum, Betty
[MN-4] - 5/27/2010
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 5/4/2010
Rep Norton,
Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 4/27/2010
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/2/2010
Rep
Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] - 5/28/2010
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] -
3/12/2010
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 5/18/2010
Rep
Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 5/27/2010
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
[FL-20] -
5/12/2010
---------------------------------------
Greetings
- I am pleased to inform you that we have picked up 5 more co-sponsors since my
last
update two weeks ago, bringing us to a total of 27!
But
we will need many, many more to get this bill moved through Congress. Unless
your
Representative is one of the 27 you must continue to urge
him/her to sign on as a co-sponsor of this
legislation.
I
have spent the last two weeks compiling the email address for every Health
Legislative Aide and Chief
of Staff (see below) so now it will be
extremely easy for you to directly contact the person you need to
speak to!
Even if you have already contacted your
Representative's office, unless you have spoken directly with
the
one of these staff members, you should contact their office again using this
information. If you find
that an address fails please let me know
so that I can correct it.
What you need to do:
•Send your email
to both the Health Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff
•State your desire
that your Representative sign on to co-sponsor HR 4662, the Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010. Explain why they
should support the bill and how
this legislation is of significance
to you personally. The letter should be somewhat brief, to the point,
polite and professional. Conclude my making it clear you anticipate
receiving a response to your inquiry.
•You should attach the informational
packet attached to this email and explain that it was given to the
attendees of the staff briefing held Wednesday, May 26th. You can also
include this link - http://www.
nortonschool.com/video/discoveryhealth/broadband.html - which is a video
clip that was shown at the
briefing.
If you are receiving this
by forward, blog post, etc, and the attachment or chart with email information
is
missing, please let me know so that I can send it to you
directly. If you would like to be added to or
removed from my
contact list also just let me know.
Thank you so much – Heather
Ferguson, [email protected].
District Representative
(names in blue have co-sponsored) Chief of
Staff
(FirstName.LastName@...) Health
Legislative
Aide
(FirstName.LastName@...)
ALABAMA
1 Jo Bonner
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bobby Bright
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
4
Robert B. Aderholt [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Parker Griffith
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Spencer
Bachus [email protected] [email protected]
7
Artur Davis [email protected] [email protected]
ALASKA
At Large Don Young [email protected]
[email protected]
AMERICAN SAMOA
Delegate Eni F. H.
Faleomavaega [email protected] [email protected]
ARIZONA
1 Ann Kirkpatrick [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Trent Franks [email protected]
[email protected]
3 John B. Shadegg
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Ed Pastor
(vacant) [email protected]
5 Harry E. Mitchell
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jeff Flake
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Raúl M.
Grijalva [email protected] [email protected]
8
Gabrielle Giffords [email protected]
[email protected]
ARKANSAS
1 Marion Berry
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Vic Snyder
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John Boozman
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Mike Ross
[email protected] [email protected]
CALIFORNIA
1
Mike Thompson [email protected] [email protected]
2
Wally Herger [email protected] [email protected]
3
Daniel E. Lungren [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Tom McClintock [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Doris O. Matsui [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Lynn C. Woolsey [email protected]
[email protected]
7 George Miller [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Nancy Pelosi [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Barbara Lee [email protected]
[email protected]
10 John Garamendi [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Jerry McNerney [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Jackie Speier [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Fortney Pete Stark [email protected]
[email protected]
14 Anna G. Eshoo [email protected]
[email protected]
15 Michael M. Honda
[email protected] [email protected]
16
Zoe Lofgren [email protected] [email protected]
17
Sam Farr [email protected] [email protected]
18 Dennis A. Cardoza [email protected]
[email protected]
19 George Radanovich [email protected]
[email protected]
20 Jim Costa [email protected]
[email protected]
21 Devin Nunes
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Kevin McCarthy
[email protected] [email protected]
23 Lois Capps
[email protected] [email protected]
24 Elton Gallegly
[email protected] [email protected]
25 Howard P.
"Buck'' McKeon [email protected] [email protected]
26
David Dreier [email protected] [email protected]
27
Brad Sherman [email protected] [email protected]
28
Howard L. Berman [email protected]
[email protected]
29 Adam B. Schiff
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Henry A.
Waxman [email protected] [email protected]
31 Xavier
Becerra [email protected] [email protected]
32 Judy Chu
[email protected] [email protected]
33 Diane E. Watson
[email protected] [email protected]
34 Lucille
Roybal-Allard [email protected] [email protected]
35
Maxine Waters [email protected]
[email protected]
36 Jane Harman [email protected]
[email protected]
37 Laura Richardson
[email protected] [email protected]
38 Grace F.
Napolitano [email protected] [email protected]
39 Linda T.
Sánchez [email protected] [email protected]
40 Edward
R. Royce [email protected] [email protected]
41 Jerry Lewis
[email protected] [email protected]
42 Gary G.
Miller [email protected] [email protected]
43 Joe Baca
[email protected] [email protected]
44 Ken Calvert
[email protected] [email protected]
45 Mary Bono
Mack [email protected] [email protected]
46 Dana
Rohrabacher [email protected]
[email protected]
47 Loretta Sanchez
[email protected] [email protected]
48 John
Campbell [email protected] [email protected]
49 Darrell
E. Issa [email protected] [email protected]
50 Brian
P. Bilbray [email protected] [email protected]
51 Bob
Filner [email protected] [email protected]
52 Duncan
Hunter [email protected] [email protected]
53 Susan A.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
COLORADO
1 Diana DeGette [email protected] [email protected];
Kerry.Bolger@mail.
house.gov
2 Jared Polis
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John T. Salazar
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Betsy Markey
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Doug Lamborn
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Mike Coffman
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Ed Perlmutter
[email protected] [email protected]
CONNECTICUT
1 John B. Larson [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Courtney [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Rosa L. DeLauro [email protected]
[email protected]
4 James A. Himes [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Christopher S. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
DELAWARE
At Large Michael N. Castle [email protected]
[email protected]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton [email protected] [email protected]
FLORIDA
1 Jeff Miller [email protected] [email protected]
2
Allen Boyd [email protected] [email protected]
3
Corrine Brown [email protected] [email protected]
4
Ander Crenshaw [email protected] [email protected]
5
Ginny Brown-Waite [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Cliff Stearns [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John L. Mica [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Alan Grayson [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Gus M. Bilirakis [email protected]
[email protected]
10 C. W. Bill Young [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Kathy Castor [email protected]
[email protected]
12 Adam H. Putnam [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Vern Buchanan
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Connie Mack
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Bill Posey
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Thomas J.
Rooney [email protected] [email protected]
17
Kendrick B. Meek [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
[email protected] [email protected]
19 Theodore E.
Deutch [email protected] [email protected]
20
Debbie Wasserman Schultz [email protected]
[email protected]
21 Lincoln Diaz-Balart
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Ron Klein
[email protected] [email protected]
23 Alcee L. Hastings
[email protected] [email protected]
24 Suzanne M. Kosmas
[email protected] [email protected]
25 Mario
Diaz-Balart [email protected]
[email protected]
GEORGIA
1 Jack Kingston
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Sanford D. Bishop
Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
3 Lynn A.
Westmoreland [email protected] [email protected]
4 Henry
C. "Hank'' Johnson Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
5 John Lewis [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Tom Price [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Linder [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jim Marshall [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Nathan Deal [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Paul C. Broun
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Phil Gingrey
[email protected] [email protected]
12 John Barrow
[email protected] [email protected]
13 David Scott
[email protected] [email protected]
GUAM
Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo [email protected]
[email protected]
HAWAII
1 Charles K. Djou
2
Mazie K. Hirono [email protected]
[email protected]
IDAHO
1 Walt Minnick
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael K. Simpson
[email protected] [email protected]
ILLINOIS
1
Bobby L. Rush [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Daniel
Lipinski [email protected] [email protected]
4 Luis V.
Gutierrez [email protected] [email protected]
5 Mike
Quigley 1 [email protected] [email protected]
6 Peter J.
Roskam [email protected] [email protected]
7 Danny K.
Davis [email protected] [email protected]
8 Melissa L.
Bean [email protected] [email protected]
9 Janice
D. Schakowsky [email protected] [email protected]
10
Mark Steven Kirk [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Deborah L. Halvorson
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Jerry F.
Costello [email protected] [email protected]
13
Judy Biggert [email protected] [email protected]
14
Bill Foster [email protected] [email protected]
15
Timothy V. Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
16 Donald A. Manzullo
[email protected] [email protected]
17 Phil Hare
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Aaron Schock
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John Shimkus
[email protected] [email protected]
INDIANA
1
Peter J. Visclosky [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Donnelly [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Mark E. Souder [email protected]
Kristin@[email protected]
4 Steve Buyer [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Dan Burton [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Mike Pence [email protected]
[email protected]
7 André Carson [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Brad Ellsworth [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Baron P. Hill [email protected]
[email protected]
IOWA
1 Bruce L. Braley
[email protected] [email protected]
2 David Loebsack
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Leonard L.
Boswell [email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Latham
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Steve King
[email protected] [email protected]
KANSAS
1
Jerry Moran [email protected] [email protected]
2
Lynn Jenkins [email protected] [email protected]
3
Dennis Moore [email protected] [email protected]
4
Todd Tiahrt [email protected]
[email protected]
KENTUCKY
1 Ed Whitfield
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Brett Guthrie
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John A. Yarmuth
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Geoff Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Harold
Rogers [email protected] [email protected]
6 Ben Chandler
[email protected] [email protected]
LOUISIANA
1
Steve Scalise [email protected] [email protected]
2 Anh
"Joseph'' Cao [email protected] [email protected]
3
Charlie Melancon [email protected] [email protected]
4
John Fleming [email protected] [email protected]
5
Rodney Alexander [email protected] [email protected]
6
Bill Cassidy [email protected] [email protected]
7
Charles W. Boustany Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
MAINE
1 Chellie Pingree
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Michael H.
Michaud [email protected] [email protected]
MARYLAND
1 Frank Kratovil Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John P.
Sarbanes [email protected] [email protected]
4 Donna
F. Edwards [email protected] [email protected]
5
Steny H. Hoyer [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Roscoe G. Bartlett
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Elijah E. Cummings
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Chris Van
Hollen [email protected] [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
1 John W. Olver [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Richard E. Neal [email protected]
[email protected]
3 James P. McGovern
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Barney
Frank [email protected]; Maria.Giesta@@mail.house.gov
Diego.Sanchez@mail.
house.gov
5 Niki Tsongas
[email protected] [email protected]
6 John
F. Tierney [email protected] [email protected]
7 Edward
J. Markey [email protected] [email protected]
8 Michael E.
Capuano [email protected] [email protected]
9 Stephen
F. Lynch [email protected] [email protected]
10 Bill
Delahunt [email protected] [email protected]
MICHIGAN
1 Bart Stupak [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Peter Hoekstra
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Vernon J.
Ehlers [email protected] [email protected]
4 Dave Camp
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Dale E. Kildee
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Fred Upton
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mark H. Schauer
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Mike Rogers
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Gary C. Peters
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Candice S. Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Thaddeus G. McCotter
[email protected] [email protected]
12 Sander M. Levin
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick [email protected] [email protected]
14 John
Conyers Jr. [email protected] [email protected];
Joel.
[email protected]
15 John D. Dingell
[email protected] [email protected]
MINNESOTA
1
Timothy J. Walz [email protected] [email protected]
2
John Kline [email protected] [email protected]
3 Erik
Paulsen [email protected] [email protected]
4
Betty McCollum [email protected] [email protected]
5
Keith Ellison [email protected] [email protected]
6 Michele
Bachmann [email protected] [email protected]
7 Collin C.
Peterson [email protected] [email protected]
8 James
L. Oberstar [email protected]
[email protected]
MISSISSIPPI
1 Travis W. Childers
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Bennie G. Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Gregg Harper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gene Taylor
[email protected] [email protected]
MISSOURI
1
Wm. Lacy Clay [email protected]
[email protected]
2 W. Todd Akin [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Russ Carnahan [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ike Skelton [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Emanuel Cleaver [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Sam Graves [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Roy Blunt [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jo Ann Emerson
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Blaine
Luetkemeyer [email protected]
[email protected]
MONTANA
At Large Denny Rehberg
[email protected] [email protected]
NEBRASKA
1 Jeff
Fortenberry [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Lee Terry [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Adrian Smith [email protected]
[email protected]
NEVADA
1 Shelley Berkley
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Dean Heller
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Dina Titus
[email protected] [email protected]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1
Carol Shea-Porter [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Paul W. Hodes [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW JERSEY
1 Robert E. Andrews
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Frank A. LoBiondo
[email protected] [email protected]
3 John H. Adler
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Christopher H. Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Scott Garrett
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Frank Pallone Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Leonard Lance
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Bill Pascrell Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Steven R. Rothman
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Donald M. Payne
[email protected] [email protected]
11 Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen [email protected] [email protected]
12
Rush D. Holt [email protected] [email protected]
13
Albio Sires [email protected] [email protected]
NEW
MEXICO
1 Martin Heinrich [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Harry Teague [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Ben Ray Luján [email protected]
[email protected]
NEW YORK
1 Timothy H. Bishop
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Steve Israel
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Peter T. King
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Carolyn
McCarthy [email protected] [email protected]
5 Gary
L. Ackerman [email protected] [email protected]
6
Gregory W. Meeks [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Joseph Crowley [email protected]
[email protected]
8 Jerrold Nadler [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Anthony D. Weiner [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Edolphus Towns [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Yvette D. Clarke (vacant)
[email protected]
12 Nydia M. Velázquez
[email protected] [email protected]
13 Michael E. McMahon
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Carolyn
B. Maloney [email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles
B. Rangel [email protected] [email protected]
16 José E.
Serrano [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Eliot L. Engel [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Nita M. Lowey
[email protected] [email protected]
19 John J. Hall
[email protected] [email protected]
20 Scott Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
21 Paul Tonko
[email protected] [email protected]
22 Maurice D.
Hinchey [email protected] [email protected]
23 William
L. Owens [email protected] [email protected]
24 Michael
A. Arcuri [email protected] [email protected]
25 Daniel
B. Maffei [email protected] [email protected]
26
Christopher John Lee [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Brian Higgins [email protected]
[email protected]
28 Louise McIntosh Slaughter
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Eric J. J. Massa
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
1
G. K. Butterfield [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Bob Etheridge [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Walter B. Jones
[email protected] [email protected]
4 David E. Price
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Virginia Foxx
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Howard Coble
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Mike McIntyre
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Larry Kissell
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Sue Wilkins
Myrick [email protected] [email protected]
10 Patrick T.
McHenry [email protected] [email protected]
11 Heath
Shuler [email protected] [email protected]
12 Melvin L.
Watt [email protected] [email protected]
13 Brad Miller
[email protected] [email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA
At Large Earl Pomeroy [email protected]
[email protected]
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Delegate
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [email protected]
[email protected].
gov
OHIO
1 Steve Driehaus
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jean Schmidt
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Michael R. Turner
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jim Jordan
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Robert E. Latta
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Charles A. Wilson
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Steve Austria
[email protected] [email protected]
8 John A.
Boehner [email protected] [email protected]
9
Marcy Kaptur [email protected] [email protected]
10 Dennis
J. Kucinich [email protected] [email protected]
11 Marcia
L. Fudge [email protected] [email protected]
12 Patrick
J. Tiberi [email protected]
[email protected]
13 Betty Sutton
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Steven C.
LaTourette [email protected] [email protected]
15 Mary Jo
Kilroy [email protected] [email protected]
16
John A. Boccieri [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Tim Ryan [email protected]
[email protected]
18 Zachary T. Space
[email protected] [email protected]
OKLAHOMA
1
John Sullivan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Dan Boren [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Frank D. Lucas
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Tom Cole
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Mary Fallin
[email protected] [email protected]
OREGON
1
David Wu [email protected] [email protected]
2 Greg
Walden [email protected] [email protected]
3 Earl
Blumenauer [email protected] [email protected]
4 Peter
A. DeFazio [email protected] [email protected]
5 Kurt Schrader
[email protected] [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
1
Robert A. Brady [email protected] [email protected]
2
Chaka Fattah [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Kathleen A. Dahlkemper
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Jason Altmire
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Glenn Thompson
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Jim Gerlach
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Joe Sestak
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Patrick J. Murphy
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Bill Shuster
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Christopher P.
Carney [email protected] [email protected]
11 Paul E.
Kanjorski [email protected] [email protected]
12 Mark
S. Critz (vacant) (vacant)
13 Allyson Y. Schwartz
[email protected] [email protected]
14 Michael F. Doyle
[email protected] [email protected]
15 Charles W. Dent
[email protected] [email protected]
16 Joseph R.
Pitts [email protected] [email protected]
17 Tim
Holden [email protected] [email protected]
18 Tim
Murphy [email protected] [email protected]
19 Todd
Russell Platts [email protected]
[email protected]
PUERTO RICO
Delegate Pedro R.
Pierluisi [email protected]
[email protected]
RHODE ISLAND
1 Patrick J. Kennedy
[email protected] [email protected]
2 James R. Langevin
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA
1 Henry E. Brown Jr. [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Joe Wilson [email protected]
[email protected]
3 J. Gresham Barrett
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Bob Inglis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 John M. Spratt Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
6 James E. Clyburn
[email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH
DAKOTA
At Large Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [email protected]
[email protected]
TENNESSEE
1 David P. Roe
[email protected] [email protected]
2 John J. Duncan Jr.
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Zach Wamp
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Lincoln Davis
[email protected] [email protected]
5 Jim Cooper
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Bart Gordon
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Marsha
Blackburn [email protected] [email protected]
8 John
S. Tanner [email protected] [email protected]
9 Steve
Cohen [email protected] [email protected]
TEXAS
1 Louie Gohmert [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Ted Poe [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Sam Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Ralph M. Hall [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Jeb Hensarling [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Joe Barton [email protected]
[email protected]
7 John Abney Culberson
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Kevin Brady
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Al Green
[email protected] [email protected]
10 Michael T.
McCaul [email protected] [email protected]
11 K. Michael
Conaway [email protected] [email protected]
12 Kay
Granger [email protected] [email protected]
13 Mac
Thornberry [email protected] [email protected]
14 Ron
Paul [email protected] [email protected]
15 Rubén
Hinojosa [email protected] [email protected]
16
Silvestre Reyes [email protected]
[email protected]
17 Chet Edwards
[email protected] [email protected]
18 Sheila
Jackson Lee [email protected] [email protected]
19 Randy
Neugebauer [email protected] [email protected]
20
Charles A. Gonzalez [email protected] [email protected]
21
Lamar Smith [email protected] [email protected]
22
Pete Olson [email protected] [email protected]
23
Ciro D. Rodriguez [email protected] [email protected]
24
Kenny Marchant [email protected]
[email protected]
25 Lloyd Doggett
[email protected] [email protected]
26
Michael C. Burgess [email protected]
[email protected]
27 Solomon P. Ortiz
[email protected] [email protected]
28 Henry Cuellar
[email protected] [email protected]
29 Gene Green
[email protected] [email protected]
30 Eddie
Bernice Johnson [email protected]
[email protected]
31 John R. Carter [email protected]
[email protected]
32 Pete Sessions [email protected]
[email protected]
UTAH
1 Rob Bishop
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Jim Matheson
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Jason Chaffetz
[email protected] [email protected]
VERMONT
At
Large Peter Welch [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Delegate Donna M.
Christensen [email protected]
[email protected]
VIRGINIA
1 Robert J. Wittman
[email protected] [email protected]
2 Glenn C. Nye
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Robert C.
"Bobby'' Scott [email protected] [email protected]
4 J.
Randy Forbes [email protected] [email protected]
5
Thomas S. P. Perriello [email protected]
[email protected]
6 Bob Goodlatte [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Eric Cantor [email protected]
[email protected]
8 James P. Moran [email protected]
[email protected]
9 Rick Boucher [email protected]
[email protected]
10 Frank R. Wolf [email protected]
[email protected]
11 Gerald E. Connolly
[email protected] [email protected]
WASHINGTON
1 Jay Inslee [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Rick Larsen [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Brian Baird [email protected]
[email protected]
4 Doc Hastings [email protected]
[email protected]
5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers
[email protected] [email protected]
6 Norman D. Dicks
[email protected] [email protected]
7 Jim McDermott
[email protected] [email protected]
8 David G. Reichert
[email protected] [email protected]
9 Adam Smith
[email protected] [email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA
1 Alan B. Mollohan [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Shelley Moore Capito
[email protected] [email protected]
3 Nick J. Rahall II
[email protected] [email protected]
WISCONSIN
1 Paul
Ryan [email protected] [email protected]
2 Tammy
Baldwin [email protected] [email protected]
3 Ron Kind
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Gwen Moore
[email protected] [email protected]
5 F. James
Sensenbrenner Jr. [email protected] [email protected]
6
Thomas E. Petri [email protected]
[email protected]
7 David R. Obey
[email protected] [email protected]
8 Steve Kagen
[email protected] [email protected]
WYOMING
At
Large Cynthia M. Lummis [email protected]
[email protected]
LYMPHLAND
INTERVIEW WITH HEATHER FERGUSON
Tell me about
Dylan, how did you find out he had lymphedema and what kinds of tests and
doctors did
you see? Did you get a runaround or was he diagnosed
right away?
Dylan
had just a bit of swelling at birth but not enough for anyone to think anything
of it. But by two
months of age he had pitting edema in his legs
and feet and was admitted to the hospital with his
pediatrician
fearing the worst - congestive heart failure. Three days in-patient and every
test known turn
man turned up nothing and it would be another month
before Dylan was diagnosed with lymphedema
and a month after that he
began treatment. After hearing many other patients horror stories of not being
properly diagnosed for years I know that Dylan is very lucky,
although at the time it felt like it took
painfully long time to be
diagnosed and begin treatment.
What happened
when you found out the cost of treating his
lymphedema?
Thankfully
the insurance company we had the first year of Dylan's life covered everything
with no
problem. I don't know how I would have survived that year
otherwise. Our problems began when my
husband's employer switch
insurance companies. Thankfully, when I could not reverse the denials with
that company we still managed to pay out of pocket to get Dylan what he
needed. But in the bright side
it was that experience that started
me down this path of advocacy, so I believe it was a hardship we
were meant to endure. I certainly wouldn't have the drive I do today
had I not had that firsthand
experience.
How does Dylan feel about what is
happening with mom fighting for coverage?
I don't think Dylan, or his twin
brother Devdan, have any understanding of what I am doing and why and
I
am glad for that
What
was the first meeting with your legislature like, did she show interest or sort
of say, ok yeah we'll
see what we can do and did you have to push
to get noticed?
I
am so blessed that when I first reached out for help I immediately had a
receptive ear. Within an hour
of emailing State Representative
Cotham she personally called me. She was immediately willing to help
in
any way she could and I know even more so now that not every elected official
is so responsive and
committed to serving their constituents and
the greater good. I can't help but sing the praises of this
wonderful woman who is a true public
servant!
Did
it make you angry there was no coverage and how did you decide to tackle the
issue further?
Yes,
it definitely made me angry. I have never been a person to keep quiet and sulk
when confronted
with an injustice. I was not willing to just
except the situation, especially since it was my child’s life who
would be impacted, more so than mine, by this lack of coverage. Bob
Weiss and I have talked about
how we got started on this path in
very similar ways. Had our insurance companies just done the right
thing by us that would have been the end of it. But instead they said
no to the wrong people and here
we are
today!
After
winning coverage in NC, what made you decide to push further for all
patients?
Nationwide
coverage has always been my goal. My son and all people with LE should be able
to live
anywhere in this country and have
coverage.
How
do you think you managed to get further than a lot of the advocates who have
worked for years for
coverage?
Sheer determination! When your
child's quality of life and maybe his very life are on the line that is the
most powerful motivation there is. I always try to impress upon other
people that I had no special skills
or life experience to get me
here. I am just an average person who is not willing to give up or take no for
an answer.
What is your ultimate
goal?
Nationwide
comprehensive LE treatment coverage. Then I, and I hope other advocates like
me, can
turn their time and energy to supporting research. I
believe that in my son’s lifetime his LE will no longer
be
idiopathic and that new and better treatments and maybe even a cure will be
discovered.
Tell
me a little about Dylan, how does he live with lymphedema? How is he taking
the condition?
Adults
with LE often express sympathy that Dylan has to deal with this as a child, but
I am absolutely
certain it is easier to grow up knowing no
different. Dylan is a completely happy, normal and in all other
ways healthy little boy.
New York State Lymphatic Disease
Bill Signed
Assembly Bill A05320A Alan Maisel/ S00629A Charles
Fuschillo, originally introduced in 2007, was
passed by the NYS
Legislature on July 19, and signed into law by Governor Patterson on July 30,
2010. This law amends the New York State Public Health Law to add
children under the age of 21 who
are disabled from lymphedema,
lipodema, lymphatic disease and vascular/lymphatic malformations to the
definition of "children with physical disabilities", thereby requiring
the State to provide medical service for
their treatment and
rehabilitation. Medical service includes "such diagnostic, therapeutic, and
rehabilitative care by medical and paramedical personnel, including
hospital and related care, and drugs,
prostheses, appliances,
equipment and devices as necessary."[PHL Article 25,Title 5,
§2580-4]
The new law also adds the requirement for the Department of
Health to provide information on
lymphatic disease as well as
lymphedema to the health care and wellness education and outreach
program. The new law specifically requires electronic links from the
Department's web sites to the NLN
and LRF web sites. [PHL Article
2, Title 1, §207(c)]