Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to streamline enrollment of certain Medicaid providers and suppliers across State lines, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act 2. Findings The Congress finds as follows: (1) Thankfully, most children are well. However, there is a small subset of children with medically complex needs. Many of these medically complex needs are congenital, but some are acquired during childhood. Examples of children with medically complex needs include children with Down syndrome, cancer, cystic fibrosis, or Duchene muscular dystrophy. (2) Children with medically complex needs often require health care from multiple specialty providers that are not always located within their home State. (3) Children with medically complex needs and families on Medicaid who require care from providers outside of their home State must navigate a number of paperwork challenges that can impede timely access to care. (4) Health care providers treating children from out-of-State face significant burdens in being screened and enrolled to participate in the Medicaid program of the child being treated. (5) Current Federal regulation and guidance from the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services allow States to rely on provider screenings done by Medicaid contractors or by other State Medicaid or CHIP programs. (6) The Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) is an existing national enrollment system for Medicare providers and suppliers that is being expanded to support better alignment between Medicare, Medicaid and the CHIP program and that system could serve as a nationwide platform for provider enrollment in Medicaid. (7) Congress recognizes the need for thorough screening of providers and suppliers in the Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP programs to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. (8) A nationwide streamlined screening and enrollment process for limited risk providers who care for children (and the adults who have medically complex needs which began in childhood) under the Medicaid and CHIP programs will accelerate access to appropriate care. In addition, such a process has the potential to strengthen program integrity efforts by requiring thorough screening and vetting of providers. 3. Streamlined screening and enrollment process for eligible out-of-State Medicaid providers and suppliers (a) In general Section 1902(kk) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(kk) (10) Streamlined screening and enrollment process for eligible out-of-State providers and suppliers (A) In general Subject to subsection (a)(65), the State adopts a streamlined screening and enrollment process for eligible out-of-State providers and suppliers. (B) Streamlined screening and enrollment process For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term streamlined screening and enrollment process (C) Eligible out-of-State provider or supplier For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term eligible out-of-State provider or supplier (D) Requirements For purposes of subparagraph (B), the requirements of this subparagraph are the following: (i) An eligible out-of-State provider or supplier that elects to be and is enrolled in the program established under this title in accordance with the process established by the Secretary under section 2(b) of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (ii) An eligible out-of-State provider or supplier that is enrolled in the State plan through the streamlined screening and enrollment process shall be enrolled for a period of 5 years before being required to obtain revalidation. (iii) An eligible out-of-State provider or supplier that is enrolled in the State plan through the streamlined screening and enrollment process shall be permitted to order all clinically necessary follow-up care, including with respect to the prescribing of medications. . (b) Coordination with Medicare The Secretary shall establish a process for permitting a provider or a supplier, as the case may be, the option when enrolling in the program established under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act pursuant to subpart P of part 424 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), to elect, at the same time, to enroll in the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act for purposes of all State plans under such title XIX. The Secretary may utilize the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (referred to as PECOS (c) Conforming amendments (1) Section 1902(a)(77) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(77) enrollment, screening, (2) Section 1902(kk) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(kk) (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting Enrollment, Screening, (B) in paragraph (9), by striking Nothing Except as provided in paragraph (10)(D)(i), nothing (3) Section 2107(e)(1)(F) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)(F) enrollment, screening, (d) Effective date (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section take effect on January 1, 2019. (2) Exception for State legislation In the case of a State plan for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or a State child health plan under title XXI of such Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this section, such State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet these additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.

Summary: Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll as participating providers without undergoing additional screening requirements. Among other things, a qualifying provider must (1) serve minors, or adults whose condition began as a minor; and (2) have previously been screened for Medicare participation or for participation in the Medicaid program of the state in which the provider is located.