lebontadipio is excited to announce we are now sponsoring Brylan’s Feat Foundation! This amazing organization is a financial resource to children in need of lymphedema treatment. Brylan’s Feat Foundation aids these families in providing the garments necessary to manage lymphedema.

Meet Brylan

This young girl was the inspiration that started it all. Brylan was born with lymphedema in her leg and has been wearing compression garments since she was 11 months old. Since she is so young and has a lot of room to grow, that means a LOT of garments. The cost for custom garments is even more than ready-to-wear options, which can take a big toll financially. Knowing that other people are in the same situation, Brylan’s mother, Brittany, founded Brylan’s Feat Foundation to help families acquire the necessary compression garments and wraps for their kids.

About Lymphedema

Lymphedema is characterized by chronic swelling, which occurs most often in the arm or leg. Some people are born with lymphedema, and others develop it after removal or damage to the lymph nodes, such as undergoing breast cancer treatment. Lymphedema can be managed with regular use of compression garments, manual lymph drainage, or other techniques. Without wearing compression garments, the swelling can get worse, and there is an increased risk of infection.

Brylan’s Impact

This wonderful organization is helping to change the lives of so many children. We are honored to have a part in it. Many families struggle to afford compression garments and they are not often covered by insurance. We are happy to sponsor Brylan’s Feat to help change this. Please help get the word out about this fantastic financial resource to aid children with lymphedema!

Learn more or donate today: https://www.lebontadipio.com/

According to recent NASA research, compression garments can help astronauts once they return to earth to prevent orthostatic intolerance (OI). Once gravity hits, many astronauts experience a rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, the feeling of lightheadedness, or even like they might faint. Whether you are in space for two weeks or six months, once you return to earth your body experiences many changes, such as a lack of strength, blood volume, differences in coordination and balance, and even a struggle to walk or stand.

To help astronauts transition better back to life on earth, NASA is teaming up with BSN Medical, an international company that supplies therapeutic medical compression garments. BSN engineers are designing custom three-piece elastic gradient compression garments to protect astronauts against orthostatic intolerance (OI) symptoms, which occur when the body reacts to an upright or standing position.

It’s not just astronauts who can benefit from wearing compression garments to prevent orthostatic intolerance. Other chronic orthostatic intolerance conditions such as Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Neurally Mediated Hypotension (NMH) fall under the OI category. NMH occurs when your blood pressure is normal while sitting or laying down, but is much lower after standing or being in an upright position. POTS refers to an increased heart rate while standing, but remains normal while in a resting position. Wearing compression socks can help fight symptoms of dysautonomia and prevent the feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness after standing up.

While we have compression stockings that help manage these symptoms, this new, innovative garment designed for NASA is still in the research phase and shows a lot of promise. Check back for the latest on the development of this cool new compression garment.

There is one exception in the current Medicare policy. Coverage may be provided if you are being treated by a doctor for a venous statis ulcer on your leg and have a prescription from your Doctor for compression stockings and liners for this condition. lebontadipio sells several ulcer care stockings including the Jobst UlcerCare with Zipper and Mediven Dual Layer Stocking System. Here’s the nitty gritty from Medicare:

The beneficiary must have an open venous stasis ulcer that has been treated by a physician or other healthcare professional requiring medically necessary debridement. The gradient stocking must be proven to deliver compression greater than 30 mm Hg. and less than 50 mmHg. When a covered gradient compression stocking is provided to a patient with an open venous stasis ulcer, the modifier AW (item furnished in conjunction with a surgical dressing) must be appended or the claim will be denied as a non-covered service. Gradient compression stockings are non-covered for the following conditions: Venous insufficiency without stasis ulcers
Prevention of stasis ulcers

The Lymphedema Diagnosis and Therapy Cost Saving Act of 2010 (HR4662) was introduced in the House of Representatives by North Carolina Congressman Larry Kissell. This is a bi-partisan effort and currently has 58 co-sponsors in the House. This bill would establish a new benefit category to cover the compression bandages, compression garments and compression devices used in the treatment of lymphedema. The Medicare Evidence Development Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) concluded at their meeting last November that existing evidence gives reasonable confidence that use of compression bandage systems and compression garments improve the health of lymphedema patients.

You can read a summary or a the entire bill.

You can help get this bill passed by emailing or phoning your congressperson.

Pete@lebontadipio
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