HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Communications Office
Room 609 Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404.656.0305
1.877.222.2768

Speaker Richardson appoints State Representatives Len Walker, Hinson Mosley, and Debbie Buckner to the House Study Committee on Causes and Treatment of Lymphedema

Atlanta–Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) appointed State Representatives Len Walker (R-Loganville), Hinson Mosley (R-Jesup), and Debbie Buckner ( D-Junction City) to the House Study Committee on Causes and Treatment of Lymphedema.

The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, challenges, and opportunities relating to lymphedema. It is the swelling in the body resulting from an accumulation of fluid in the tissue caused through a genetic condition or by a disruption in the lymphatic system's ability to clean and filter lymph fluid in the body. It can occur at any time in a person's life after an initial injury to the lymphatic system, and if lymphedema is not treated properly, it progresses and can cause a high risk of infection, can result in expensive hospitalizations and antibiotic treatments, and can cause disabling or even fatal conditions. It requires lifelong management, and proper treatment can increase the patient's quality of life; and, it would be prudent and beneficial to assess the extent of health care coverage for the treatment of lymphedema to determine whether or not legislative action should be recommended to mandate certain coverage of lymphedema.

The committee was created by the passage of House Resolution 641, authored by Rep. Len Walker, who will also be serving as Chair of the study committee. The study committee will end its meeting on December 31, 2005.

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Brent Cranfield

404-656-0305 bcranfield@legis.state.ga.us