Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act of 2025
Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act of 2025 **What the Bill Does:** This bill would allow doctors and health care providers from other states to more easily treat children in states where they don't currently have licenses or enrollments. Instead of going through lengthy screening processes, out-of-state providers who already work in Medicare or a state's Medicaid program could quickly enroll to treat children under age 21 for up to five years. The main goal is to reduce wait times and expand access to pediatric care, particularly in areas where there may be a shortage of local providers. **Who It Affects and Key Safeguards:** The bill primarily affects children covered by Medicaid and CHIP (state health insurance programs for low-income families).
Providers would need to meet basic safety requirements—they must have a clean record with no history of fraud, exclusion, or termination from federal health programs. These restrictions are designed to protect patients while removing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers that currently slow down provider enrollment. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA) and is currently in committee review. The changes would take effect three years after the bill becomes law, giving states time to set up the new enrollment process.
CRS Official Summary
Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act of 2025This bill requires states to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may temporarily treat children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) without undergoing additional screening requirements. Specifically, states must establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll for five years as participating providers to treat individuals under the age of 21 without undergoing additional screening requirements.A qualifying out-of-state provider (1) must not have been excluded or terminated from participating in a federal health care program or state Medicaid program; and (2) must have been successfully enrolled in Medicare or a state Medicaid program based on a determination that the provider posed a limited risk of fraud, waste, or abuse.The bill’s changes take effect three years after enactment.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.