WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 17, 2024 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, a bill that would reduce the paperwork required of doctors treating children from out-of-state—and get children the care they need faster, without delays.
The legislation, which The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its volunteers have spent years advocating for, will now be considered by the U.S. Senate.
“As a pediatric oncologist, I know: children with cancer have NO time to waste,” said E. Anders Kolb, MD, president and CEO of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act spares families from needless delays at a moment when time is of the essence. We urge the Senate to take up the bill and pass it right away. Kids with cancer can’t wait.”
When children with cancer or other complex medical conditions need specialized care, they often must travel outside of their home state to find it. But today, doing so requires bureaucratic steps that can cause delays in treatment. That’s especially true for the 50% of kids covered by Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. These children and their families are subject to a coordination process between the health agency in their home state and their out-of-state providers. This process can take months.
“Nobody likes dealing with red tape, but when children with cancer encounter it, the stakes are exponentially higher,” said Gwen Nichols, MD, chief medical officer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “Delays that children face when seeking out-of-state care can be dangerous, or even deadly. Our smallest cancer fighters deserve better—and this bill is an enormous step forward.”
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act would reduce barriers to out-of-state care by allowing pediatric providers to enroll more efficiently in multiple Medicaid programs empowering them to provide time-sensitive care without delay to both in-state and out-of-state patients.
Media contact
Brianna Wilson
Director, Advocacy Communications, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Brianna.wilson@lls.org
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the global leader in the fight against blood cancer. The LLS mission is to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has regions throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org.
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