Happy New Year, VBCF Advocates!
We hope you enjoyed a restful holiday season. Read on for a few advocacy updates as we gear up for 2023.
We Did It! The Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA) is now federal law!
The LTA was passed by Congress on December 23, 2022, and signed into law by President Biden! It took 12 years of hard work by volunteer advocates and their partners to pass this law. What a wonderful accomplishment and testament to perseverance! Thank you to all our VBCF advocates who took action to help support the passage of this bill!
The law will be effective beginning on January 1, 2024, giving the Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services a year to write the rules to implement the coverage. For more information about implementation: Lymphedema Treatment Act FAQs
Background: The LTA improves coverage for the treatment of lymphedema from any cause by amending the Medicare statute to cover medically necessary, doctor-prescribed compression supplies that are the cornerstone of lymphedema treatment. Although this legislation relates specifically to a change in Medicare law, it would set a precedent for Medicaid and private insurers to follow. Lymphedema is a condition that can develop due to the removal of or damage to lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment. While not everyone that is treated for breast cancer will develop lymphedema, it can occur days, months, or years after breast cancer treatment.
The Federal MBC Access To Care Act did not make it to the floor for a vote before the 117th Congress ended on December 31st. While disappointing, it's important to highlight that the bill had over 240 bi-partisan co-sponsors in the House and 29 in the Senate - the most support the bill has had since being introduced back in 2017! Moreover, due to YOUR efforts, 9 out of the 11 Virginia members of the House of Representatives co-sponsored this bill - the largest number we have ever had! This puts us in a great position moving forward. Thank you, advocates, and please stay tuned for next steps!
Background: This bill would waive the waiting periods for Medicare (up to 24 months) and Social Security Disability benefits (up to 5 months) for those living with metastatic breast cancer. Waiving these waiting periods would allow patients to get the health care they need and already qualify for sooner.
The 118th U.S. Congress began on January 3, 2022, and will conclude on January 3, 2025. All of Virginia's representatives were re-elected during the November 2022 election, with the exception of Representative Elaine Luria (D-2nd). Former Virginia state senator Jennifer Kiggans (R-2nd), is the newly elected representative for the 2nd District. (Click here to look up your legislators)
In addition, a special election will be held in the 4th Congressional District on February 21, 2023 (early voting began 1/6/23) to fill the seat of the late Congressman A. Donald McEachin. VBCF was sad to learn of Congressman McEachin's passing in November 2022. He was a great friend to VBCF and a champion for the breast cancer community. He co-sponsored the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act from its first introduction in 2017 and was a steadfast supporter of funding for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. VBCF honored Congressman McEachin in 2021 with the More Than a Pink Ribbon "Legislative Impact Award."
2023 Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly will begin in Richmond tomorrow, January 11th. This is a short, 30-day session, scheduled to end on February 25th. Bills and budget amendments are still being submitted and VBCF will be monitoring healthcare legislation. Please stay tuned for more information as the session gets underway.
Also, a special election is being held today, January 10th, in the 7th State Senate District in the Virginia Beach area to replace Jennifer Kiggans in the General Assembly who now serves in Congress.
