Title: Lymphedema Treatment Act of 2019
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Lymphedema Treatment Act of 2019
This bill includes certain lymphedema compression treatment items as covered durable medical equipment under Medicare. (Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling that is caused when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked.)

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1948 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1948

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare 
coverage of certain lymphedema compression treatment items as items of 
                       durable medical equipment.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 28, 2019

Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. 
Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Welch, Mr. Gianforte, Ms. Matsui, 
  Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Moore, Ms. Gabbard, Ms. Johnson of 
  Texas, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. 
 Diaz-Balart, Mr. Holding, Mrs. Bustos, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Vela, Ms. 
 Blunt Rochester, Mr. Rush, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Yarmuth, Mr. 
Grijalva, Ms. Hill of California, Mr. Foster, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Hastings, 
  Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. King of New York, Mr. 
Massie, Mr. King of Iowa, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Cohen, Mr. 
Visclosky, Mr. Suozzi, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Heck, 
Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. 
Cole, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Rodney Davis 
of Illinois, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Kind, Mr. Rose of New York, Mr. Duffy, Mr. 
 Katko, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Griffith, Miss Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico, 
Mrs. Brooks of Indiana, Mr. Zeldin, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Deutch, Ms. Sewell of 
Alabama, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, Ms. Barragan, Ms. 
   Schrier, Mr. Young, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Rice of South Carolina, Mrs. 
   Radewagen, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Engel, Ms. McCollum, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. 
  Cartwright, Mr. Cooper, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. Wilson of South 
 Carolina, Mr. Hurd of Texas, Mr. Rooney of Florida, Mr. Wenstrup, Mr. 
Joyce of Ohio, Mr. Loebsack, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Morelle, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. 
Lawson of Florida, Mr. Posey, Mr. Lamborn, Ms. Adams, Mr. Palazzo, and 
Mr. Mitchell) 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 provide for Medicare 
coverage of certain lymphedema compression treatment items as items of 
                       durable medical equipment.

    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 Treatment Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF CERTAIN LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION TREATMENT 
              ITEMS AS ITEMS OF DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (n), in the first sentence, by inserting 
        before the semicolon the following: ``and includes lymphedema 
        compression treatment items (as defined in subsection (kkk))''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

                ``Lymphedema Compression Treatment Items

    ``(kkk) The term `lymphedema compression treatment items'--
            ``(1) means, with respect to an individual, compression 
        garments, devices, bandaging systems, components, and 
        supplies--
                    ``(A) that are primarily and customarily used in 
                the medical treatment of lymphedema;
                    ``(B) as prescribed by a physician (or a physician 
                assistant, nurse practitioner, or a clinical nurse 
                specialist (as those terms are defined in section 
                1861(aa)(5)) to the extent authorized under State law); 
                and
                    ``(C) which would not, other than under subsection 
                (s)(6), be included as medical and other health 
                services under this title; and
            ``(2) includes--
                    ``(A) multilayer compression bandaging systems;
                    ``(B) custom or standard fit gradient compression 
                garments;
                    ``(C) non-elastic and low-elastic compression 
                garments and compression wraps and directional flow 
                pads; and
                    ``(D) any other compression garments, bandaging 
                systems, devices, and aids determined by the Secretary 
                to be effective in the prevention or treatment of 
                lymphedema.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to lymphedema compression treatment items furnished on or after 
January 1, 2021.
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