Ron Paul is the first representative to co-sponsor the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Bill.
While this is undoubtedly a good sign, we still have a long journey ahead of us and need your help to get this bill passed!
To see how you can make a difference, please click here.
Afterward, feel free to bask in a bit of nostalgia in this (very informative) Schoolhouse Rock video.
Having problems viewing the video? Click here.
As some of you may have already heard, on February 23rd a Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives. To pass, this bill will need support from you and your local representatives! Please contact your local Senator and Congressperson and urge them to co-sponsor the bill (H.R. 4662).
If you would like to get involved and take action, please visit the NLN’s website www.lymphnet.org for more information, to view sample letters, and to find out how to contact your local representatives!
If you have any further questions or comments on the bill, please feel free to contact Robert Weiss at lymphactivist@aol.com.
Thank you to everyone that stopped by and visited with us at Klose’s Lymphedema Awareness Day and at the Enhancement conference in Fresno! It was a pleasure as always!
I wanted to thank everyone in North and South Carolina for taking the time to meet with me; it was a pleasure meeting everyone. If you wanted an in-service and I was unable to see you, please contact me and I would be happy to schedule a time for myself to come out. Any excuse to get out of the Wisconsin winter will be greatly appreciated 
Thank you again!
Paul Cercone | Regional Representative
SOLARIS
6737 West Washington Street, Suite 3260
West Allis, WI 53214
P: 414.918.9180
M: 262.327.6611
F: 414.918.9189
paul.cercone@solarismed.com
www.solarismed.com
Exciting news on the Canadian front! The British Columbia Lymphedema Association (BCLA) will be holding a Lymphedema Awareness Day Event on Saturday, March 6, in Burnaby, British Columbia. There is plenty of information on their website: how to register for the event (this is a free event), flyer downloads to post in your clinic or community, and more!
Solaris’ Canadian distributor, Lymphedema Depot, will be supporting the BCLA’s efforts by exhibiting at this event. Full demonstrations of our garments will be shown as well.
Lymphedema Depot is also hosting an open house in Victoria, BC on Friday, March 5th for patients, therapists, fitters and other interested parties! Please click here for more details.
Beth, our Western Region Rep, will be in Fresno, CA for the Enhancement Networking and Educational Seminar from March 5th – 7th.
The Enhancement seminars are great opportunities for Lymphedema Therapists to get together for networking sessions, talks, product demonstrations, earn some extra CEUs, and more!
For more information, or if you’re interested in attending, please contact Shoosh Crotzer at 805-771-8640.
Hope to see you there!
A few members of the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year board stopped by recently to present the Solaris staff with their official 2009 Wisconsin MOY nomination.
The award ceremony will be held on February 25th. We’re up against some other great local companies, and we would like to wish everyone the best of luck!
I’ll be in North Carolina February 15-19 and then South Carolina the following week. My schedule is just about full so if you would like to see Solaris over those times let me know!
M: 262.327.6611
paul.cercone@solarismed.com
We all know February is the month of Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day, so here are some lesser know holidays that we heard about and hope you like.
Feb. 4 – Thank a Mailman Day
Feb. 9 – Toothache Day (which you’d think would come after Valentine’s Day)
Feb. 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day
Feb. 20 – Cherry Pie Day
Feb. 28 – Public Sleeping Day
Read below to see how coverage for lymphedema treatment became mandated in North Carolina.
“The (lymphedema treatment coverage) bill came about when a constituent visited our office to voice her concerns about lymphedema and the denial of coverage for treatment of this devastating disease. Her son suffers from the disease, and she had fought to see that he receives the treatment he needs.
Lymphedema is a chronic disease caused by a weakened lymphatic system, and can be hereditary or caused by a secondary reason such as injury to the lymph nodes. Many cancer patients suffer from lymphedema which causes lymphatic fluid to collect in the limbs and cause swelling. The swelling can become permanent if not treated.
Yet, coverage for treatment is routinely denied by insurance companies as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Complications from the disease if left untreated can range from severe deformity, disability, pain and can even lead to death. Luckily, treatment is covered for breast cancer patients under the Women’s Health and Cancer Act, but others suffering from the disease fight an uphill battle just to get coverage for treatment.
Our constituent has already worked with the state to mandate insurance companies to provide coverage for lymphedema treatment in North Carolina with the help of Representative Tricia Cotham, but her concern is the thousands of people across the country that fight on a daily basis to get their insurance companies to cover this badly-needed treatment. States which have mandated the coverage have proven that covering the treatment leads to lower medical expenses caused by complications of the disease.
We must right that wrong, and make sure that people living with this disease are granted access to the treatments they need. We hope to introduce this important legislation to mandate coverage for lymphedema treatment in the coming weeks.”
From the Richmond County Daily Journal.
Click here for the full article.
