Letters: Congress should act on coverage of painful disease

If you or someone you love is over 65 years old and has the painful disease of Lymphedema, you may wonder why they must pay completely out of pocket for their prescribed compression garments and supplies. It is absurd and it's unjust.

The Lymphedema Treatment Act provides a technical correction to the Medicare statute to provide coverage for prescribed garments and supplies. It closes a harmful and wasteful unintended gap in coverage. It is not an expansion of Medicare. The bill will improve patient outcomes and save the Medicare program $1.3 to $1.5 billion over the first 10 years by reducing the incidence of costly complications, co-morbidities, disabilities and hospitalizations.

The LTA is the most supported healthcare bill in the House and Senate with 75% of Congress supporting, a super majority in both chambers and no opposition on the Hill.

So why has this simple and straightforward bill that both saves money and improves health care for seniors been rattling around the halls of Congress for 11 years and counting? I serve on the front lines as an advocate for this bill, and I see the shameful "delay of game" that is costing so many so much in terms of wellbeing and quality of life. We need more from our elected officials. Patients with Lymphedema who are on Medicare have waited long enough for this injustice to be fixed. It's past time for our Congress to pass the Lymphedema Treatment Act.

Barbara Hochstadt

Roselle