More than half of U.S. children depend on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for healthcare coverage, but this coverage is restricted to providers within their home state. For children with complex medical conditions, like brain tumors, this limitation often blocks access to specialized care available only out of state.
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 17, seeks to change that. Currently, out-of-state providers must undergo a time-consuming screening and enrollment process in a child’s home state Medicaid program, delaying access to life-saving care. This bill would create a streamlined pathway for providers in good standing to enroll in multiple state Medicaid programs, allowing children to receive faster, more timely care without all the red tape.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, along with other childhood cancer advocates, has been championing this legislation for two years. Now, efforts are focused on ensuring the bill moves forward in the Senate. The Act has garnered bipartisan support from sponsors Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA).
If passed, the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act will improve children’s access to essential health care, while eliminating administrative burdens for providers and states. You can help push this critical legislation forward, by supporting advocacy efforts through the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Join the cause by signing up at curethekids.org/advocate. Your voice can help ensure children get the care they need when they need it most.
Getting families where they need to be without worrying about the cost of transportation.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) and Uber are joining forces to provide essential support for families navigating the challenges of pediatric brain tumors.
“This report lays groundwork to improve the experience of people living with this disease,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, one of the country’s leading neurosurgeons, and a member of PBTF’s Board of Directors. “I believe it shines a much-needed spotlight on the wide-ranging and extensive challenges that this type of tumor causes for patients and their families, and I am hopeful that this moment is a significant milestone for this community.”
