II
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 518
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 14, 2019
Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Brown, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Harris, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Blunt, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Tillis, Mr. King, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Coons, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Reed, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Booker, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Daines, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Jones, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Hoeven) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
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.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Lymphedema Treatment Act
.
Medicare coverage of certain lymphedema compression treatment items as items of durable medical equipment
In general
Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—
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
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Lymphedema compression treatment items
The term lymphedema compression treatment items—
means, with respect to an individual, compression garments, devices, bandaging systems, components, and supplies—
that are primarily and customarily used in the medical treatment of lymphedema;
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
which would not, other than under subsection (s)(6), be included as medical and other health services under this title; and
includes—
multilayer compression bandaging systems;
custom or standard fit gradient compression garments;
non-elastic and low-elastic compression garments and compression wraps and directional flow pads; and
any other compression garments, bandaging systems, devices, and aids determined by the Secretary to be effective in the prevention or treatment of lymphedema.
.
Effective date
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to lymphedema compression treatment items furnished on or after January 1, 2021.