Posey and Wasserman Schultz Team Up on Breast Cancer Bill

A Florida congressman and congresswoman -- Republican Bill Posey and Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- teamed up on Friday to introduce the Post-Mastectomy Infection Reduction Act which extends Medicare to cover patients who needed continued surgery to reduce the risk of infection.

If a patient develops a surgical site infection and has to be readmitted to the hospital, not only is this bad for the patient but it would likely cost thousands of additional dollars, said Posey. The small cost of water-resistant coverings in cases where the physician believes they are medically necessary to prevent infection will save lives and money by reducing the risk of infection. As a cancer survivor myself, I can understand the struggle that so many with cancer and other diseases go through on a daily basis.

I am proud to introduce this legislation with my Florida colleague and fellow cancer survivor, Congressman Posey, said Wasserman Schultz. A double-mastectomy patient myself, I am acutely sensitive to the post-surgery needs of patients as they try to recover, heal and get back to a normal routine of things we often take for granted like cooking, dressing, working, and of course, bathing. Authorizing Medicare to support these coverings will bring much-needed protection and peace of mind to recovering patients.