Sen. Kaine joins legislation to ease access of care across state lines for children on Medicaid

The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act is bipartisan legislation that would streamline access to life-saving medical care for children with complex medical conditions who receive care across state lines by eliminating unnecessary administrative work for health care providers.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined introduction of the legislation today.

“Children deserve medical attention as quickly as possible. In cases where that means crossing state lines, parents deserve to know that red tape won’t cause delays,” Kaine said. “This bipartisan legislation will help eliminate bureaucracy and ensure more families have access to life-saving care when they need it most.”

Under current Medicaid policy, in order for children to receive care across state lines, the providers must be enrolled in the Medicaid program that aligns with the child’s state of origin. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act would create a pathway for pediatric providers to enroll in multiple state Medicaid programs, thus eliminating unnecessary delays, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring that children with Medicaid receive timely access to the specialized care they need.

As a member of the HELP Committee, Kaine has long fought to reduce barriers to accessing timely medical care. In June 2024, he reintroduced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, legislation that would streamline the prior authorization process under Medicare Advantage plans to allow older Americans to access care faster. In May 2024, Kaine also introduced the Access to Birth Control Act, legislation to guarantee timely access to birth control at pharmacies nationwide.