Page updated 10/1/09
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Lymphland International Lymphedema Online
| Some of the Canada Provinces have stopped paying for primary lymphedema treatment and are only accepting breast cancer patients. That is unfair and the Albert Lymphedema Association is trying to stop the practices. These are forms from the Albert Lymphedema Association to protest that, please help by sending out the form letter and taking the petition to your therapists. Honourable Ronald Liepert Minister of Health and Wellness Legislature Office #323 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB Canada T5K 2B6 Dear Honourable Liepert, Currently, Alberta Health Care does not cover treatment services for non-cancer patients. With treatment at $85/hr plus bandaging supplies and other necessary medical aids, many patients are not able to afford treatment. Prior to November 7, 2006, AHC did not cover treatment for Calgary and Southern Alberta cancer patients either. However, following August 2006 revelations in the media that Edmonton cancer patients had in-house lymphedema treatment publicly funded, these cancer patients also received funding. Services were contracted on an annual basis to Calgary Lymphedema Rehabilitation. At the same time, members of the Alberta Lymphedema Association gathered signatures on a petition requesting the inclusion of Complex Decongestive Therapy in the list of accepted therapeutic procedures covered by Alberta Health Care (for all lymphedema sufferers). The petition was tabled in the Alberta Legislature August 30, 2006, and still has not been brought forward to the floor. The continued non-funding for non-cancer lymphedema treatment is, simply, unfair and inequitable. This disease is the same regardless of cause, and treatment is neither optional nor cosmetic. If left untreated, unchecked and uncontrolled lymphedema can lead to ongoing episodes of cellulitis and septicemia, fast-moving infections requiring I.V. antibiotics and costly hospital stays. Patients can lose their infected limb(s) or worse. Without treatment to reduce volume, the buildup of lymph fluid continues to expand the limb (think elephantiasis). If you would like more information about lymphedema or this issue, please contact the Alberta Lymphedema Association, c/o President Diane Martin at (403) 281-9205 or email lymphnet@telus.net. Thank you for your time and consideration of this urgent matter. I look forward to your timely response. Sincerely, ----- Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, in the Legislature Assembled: Whereas Lymphedema is a progressive, disfiguring and debilitative disorder. Uncontrolled, lymphedema can lead to cellulitis and lymphangitis, fast-moving infections requiring I.V. antibiotics and costly hospital stays; Whereas Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is an effective means to manage lymphedema and improve the patient's quality of life; Whereas Alberta Health Care only covers treatment for lymphedema caused by cancer; We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to urge the Government to include Complex Decongestive Therapy in the list of accepted therapeutic procedures covered by Alberta Health Care. PLEASE NOTE: The name and address of the persons who sign this petition may be made available to the public if the petition is in order to be read and received in the Legislative Assembly. Please return to Alberta Lymphedema Learning Association, 55 Brookpark Crescent, S.W., Calgary, AB T2W 2W6. Name Address Postal Code Signature NAME ADDRESS POSTAL CODE SIGNATURE _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ |