SIGVARIS Support Lymphedema Treatment Act

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. (September 2, 2015)—For many patients with lymphedema, health insurance does not cover the cost of graduated compression garments. However, graduated compression garments are an effective solution for reducing the medical costs associated with their lymphedema management.

Wound care and lymphedema specialist, Robyn Bjork, was recently sponsored by SIGVARIS for a unique opportunity to meet with Jim Cooper, a congressman in Nashville, Tenn., as part of a team including the Lymphedema Advocacy Group and lymphedema patients. The group provided education about lymphedema, shared personal stories about living with the condition, and explained how compression garments help manage lymphedema and prevent debilitating infections and hospitalizations.

“This was a real win in the fight to manage lymphedema,” says Bjork. “You could feel the sigh of relief and surge of joy from our group when Congressman Cooper responded to our plea with full support. It was such a privilege to actively lobby for this cause, and I’m grateful to SIGVARIS for supporting these efforts.”

Robyn Bjork is the associate director and global liaison for medical innovation at SIGVARIS. She is also a physical therapist who is a Certified Lymphedema & Wound Therapist, founder and CEO of the International Lymphedema & Wound Care Training Institute, and co‐founder and President of ILWTI Medical Missions, an organization dedicated to wound care and lymphedema treatment and training in underserved areas. She works at SIGVARIS to provide medical knowledge on the best treatment options for patients with lymphedema.

“We are proud to support patient needs in regards to better treatment and diagnosis for people with lymphedema and other leg diseases,” says Scot Dubé, SIGVARIS president and CEO for North America. “We believe that regular use of compression and early intervention can improve lives and reduce related long-term health care costs.”

For more information please visit lymphedematreamentact.org.