Bennet, Grassley, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Improve Children’s Access to Medical Care
Bennet, Grassley, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to ... Senator Michael Bennet
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Improving Access to Life-Saving Care for Children with Complex Medical Conditions
Introduction
U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), alongside U.S. Representatives Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), have introduced legislation to improve access to life-saving care for children with complex medical conditions. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act simplifies out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes for pediatric care providers while retaining key safeguards to preserve the integrity of the program.
Importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, including:
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Statement from Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Bennet stated, “For children with complex medical conditions and their families, bureaucratic red tape should not be another obstacle to access care. This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for low-income families to navigate our health care system and relieve some of the stress that caregivers face. I’ll keep working with my colleagues to pass this bill and help kids get the health care they need.”
Statement from Senator Chuck Grassley
Senator Grassley stated, “Families seeking life-saving care for their children should be able to access it quickly and wherever it’s available. Families shouldn’t have to trip over red tape to reach the most effective specialist, treatment or procedure, whether around the corner or across state lines. Our bill makes it easier for kids to get the medical attention they need without imposing extra costs on families.”
Statement from Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Representative Miller-Meeks stated, “The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act is crucial for children battling rare and complex diseases. This legislation gives children with rare and complex diseases access to health care institutions and research facilities that are in many cases out of state. It also lessens the bureaucracy and significant wait times that bottleneck patient care and risk worsening a child’s health condition.”
Statement from Representative Lori Trahan
Representative Trahan stated, “Children deserve access to the care they need regardless of the zip code they live in. That’s especially true for the unbelievably resilient kids and families battling childhood cancer and other rare diseases. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act will finally ease the burden on these families so kids get the care they deserve without delay.”
Challenges Faced by Children with Complex Medical Conditions
Children with complex medical conditions often cannot secure specialized care in their home states. When this happens, parents must work with their in-state providers and Medicaid officials to identify out-of-state providers who offer that care. However, this process is riddled with regulatory hurdles that often delay and sometimes prohibit children from receiving critical medical treatments.
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act alleviates these burdens for families and providers by facilitating coordination across state lines and clarifying the process by which state Medicaid programs can cover specialized treatment regardless of where the child lives and where their care is received.
Statement from Zach Zaslow, Vice President of Advocacy & Community Health, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Zach Zaslow stated, “We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Chuck Grassley for championing timely access to specialized care for children and their families. Now more than ever, as more adult providers close their pediatric units, it is critical to minimize any disruptions in care and treatments for children with complex medical conditions such as cancer and rare diseases. At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we are proud to treat children from every state in the country and we believe passage of this legislation will directly support our mission to ensure all children have a chance at a healthier future.”
Statement from Sandy Chung, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics
Dr. Sandy Chung stated, “It is vital that all children and adolescents can receive the health care they need, when they need it. For those with complex medical conditions, any delays in access to the specialized care they need can be detrimental to their health. As stated in its name, the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act would help ensure that children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program can receive timely health care without facing unnecessary barriers simply based on where they live. Pediatricians call on Congress to swiftly advance this bipartisan legislation, and we thank Representatives Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) for their leadership on the issue.”
Building on the Advancing Care for Exceptional (ACE) Kids Act
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act builds on Bennet and Grassley’s Advancing Care for Exceptional (ACE) Kids Act, legislation that passed Congress and was signed into law in 2019. The ACE Kids Act made it possible for healthcare providers to coordinate care, lower costs, and improve quality outcomes for children with complex medical conditions on Medicaid who require specialized care.
Support and Cosponsors
In addition to Bennet and Grassley, this legislation is cosponsored by several U.S. Senators and supported by over 200 children’s hospitals, patients, and research organizations nationwide. A full list of the organizations supporting this legislation is available HERE.
Conclusion
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act is a crucial step towards improving access to life-saving care for children with complex medical conditions. By simplifying out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes, this legislation ensures that children can receive timely and specialized healthcare regardless of their location. It is essential that Congress supports this bipartisan effort to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and prioritize the well-being of children across the United States.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The article discusses the need to improve access to life-saving care for children with complex medical conditions. This aligns with SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It also relates to SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities by ensuring equal access to essential services, including healthcare.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
The article highlights the need to simplify out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes for pediatric care providers to improve access to care for children with complex medical conditions. This aligns with Target 3.8 of SDG 3, which aims to achieve universal health coverage and ensure access to quality essential healthcare services. It also relates to Target 10.2 of SDG 10, which aims to promote the inclusion of all individuals, regardless of their economic or other status.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services
- Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability status
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, progress towards Target 3.8 can be measured using Indicator 3.8.1, which assesses the coverage of essential health services. Progress towards Target 10.2 can be measured using Indicator 10.2.1, which examines the proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, considering age, sex, and disability status.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines. | Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability status |
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Source: bennet.senate.gov
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