WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, (both D-VA), joined a bipartisan group of 27 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, legislation that would allow previously-vetted health care providers to enroll as participating providers in Medicaid programs across state lines to treat children with complex medical needs.

“Specialized care is crucial when treating complex medical issues, especially for children, but too often bureaucratic red tape interferes in treatment for patients with out-of-state Medicaid coverage,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will eliminate redundancies for health care professionals and ensure that kids are getting the care they need, when they need it.”

“Ensuring that sick kids have access to the specialized care they need is critical,” said Sen. Kaine. “This bill will allow health care providers who have already demonstrated quality care to avoid redundant screening processes and care for children who have out-of-state Medicaid coverage. I am proud to be joining a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing this important legislation to reduce delays in kids’ access to care.”

Under the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, state Medicaid programs would be required to create a process for qualifying out-of-state providers to enroll as providers in multiple states to treat children with complex medical conditions. To qualify for this accelerated process, a health care provider must have previously been screened by Medicare or by the state Medicaid program, as well as pose a limited risk of fraud or waste as determined by the state Medicaid program or federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve health care access for children. In 2014, the senators introduced the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which established crucial federal funding for pediatric cancer research. Sens. Warner and Kaine introduced legislation to reauthorize this funding in 2021, ultimately securing its reauthorization in the Senate by a unanimous vote in December 2024 in the final hours of the 118th Congress.

A link to the text of the bill can be found here.

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