Sinema-Backed Bipartisan Bill Expands Children's Access to Care

Press Release

Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act -- bipartisan legislation that expands children's access to care by eliminating burdensome administrative barriers for providers caring for children on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with complex medical needs who have to travel out-of-state for treatment or clinical trials.

"Arizona's children should not face barriers or delays for timely, life-saving care. Our bipartisan legislation helps Arizona families avoid health care delays by cutting red tape and allows health providers to focus on their patients, not paperwork," said Sinema.

CHIP provides health insurance coverage for children on Medicaid. When specialty pediatric care is only available out of state, children with complex care needs and their providers must frequently tackle complicated paperwork to comply with each state's Medicaid provider screening and enrollment requirements -- delaying the ability to get approved for timely surgery or treatment. Sinema's bipartisan bill creates an alternative screening and enrollment pathway only available to these providers who are stepping in to care for children with time-sensitive treatment needs.

Sinema has heard from Arizona families with children living with complex medical conditions who regularly require specialized care. Unfortunately, these specialty providers or facilities are not available in every state. As a result, many children do not have access to specialized care in their home state. This bipartisan legislation helps Arizona families avoid delays in care and assist providers in being able to quickly get enrolled in their out-of-patient's Medicaid or CHIP program.

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