Grassley, Bennet Legislation to Improve Kids’ Access to Life-Saving Medical Care Becomes Law

Grassley, Bennet Legislation to Improve Kids' Access to Life-Saving Medical Care Becomes Law

WASHINGTON - Legislation from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is now law after President Trump signed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package today. Grassley's bipartisan Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act, which was included in the package, improves health care access for children with complex medical conditions by simplifying out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes for pediatric care providers, all while retaining key safeguards to preserve the integrity of the program. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) led companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

"The last thing parents of children with complex medical conditions ought to battle is endless red tape to get the most effective specialist, treatment or procedure for their kids. They should be able to access this care quickly and wherever it's available, whether that's around the corner or across state lines. I'm glad to see the Senate approve our legislation to simplify the process so moms and dads don't have to burn time fighting regulatory hurdles," Grassley said.

"For children with complex medical conditions, bureaucratic red tape should not be an obstacle to care. This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for families to navigate our health care system and relieve some of the stress that they face to get their kids the care they need when they need it," Bennet said.

"The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act is a bipartisan step forward to ensure children can access life-saving medical care without unnecessary delays," Miller-Meeks said. "This legislation removes barriers for kids with complex medical needs and helps families get timely, coordinated care. I'm grateful for Senators Grassley and Bennet's leadership in the Senate."

"As a specialty pediatric healthcare provider serving thousands of children and young adults with complex medical needs, ChildServe strongly supports the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act," said Teri Wahlig, M.D., ChildServe President and CEO. "This bipartisan legislation prioritizes access to quality healthcare, critical services and specialists for children with complex medical conditions by simplifying, standardizing and streamlining the referral process. It creates a more efficient pathway for children to receive the timely care they need. We are grateful to Senator Grassley and Senator Bennett for their continued dedication to advocating for children with complex medical needs."

"Blank Children's Hospital and UnityPoint Health applauds Senator Grassley's continued effort to champion solutions to improve access to care for children with complex medical conditions. The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act proposes to reduce delays for children who rely on Medicaid in receiving the pediatric specialty care they need to survive and thrive. Providers in Iowa offer exceptional pediatric care, but rural states often lack all the emerging treatment options necessary for children with complex medical conditions. Iowa families rely on coordinated care between their local pediatric providers and pediatric specialty teams from across the country. Their child's life depends on it. This legislation will make a difference to countless children by increasing their access to pediatric specialty care in timely manner," said Dr. Amy Groen, Blank Children's Hospital & Women's Services Medical Director.

"As a pediatric hematologist oncologist, I have firsthand experience with the barriers families face when pursuing treatment for cancer and blood disorders. Cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease in children, yet access to new therapies and research is grossly inadequate. For children with complex blood disorders like sickle cell disease, the disparities are profound-these patients have limited access to life altering therapies. No child's chance at survival or quality of life should depend on their ZIP code, insurance status, or the condition they were born with. Yet families have been forced to navigate Medicaid's burdensome approval processes just to reach out of state experts and critical treatments, all while their children's lives hang in the balance. The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act will reduce these barriers, allowing our patients timely access to the specialized care they desperately need," added Dr. Wendy Woods Swafford, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Chief Medical Officer.

"As a pediatric oncologist, I know children with cancer have no time to waste," said E. Anders Kolb, MD, Blood Cancer United President and CEO. "The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act spares families from needless delays at a moment when time is of the essence-its passage is a game-changer for kids with cancer. Thank you to Senator Grassley for his leadership on this critical issue."

"The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act has the potential to save lives. Our children must receive specialized care on their own timelines, without bureaucratic interference. We thank Sens. Grassley and Bennet for their work on behalf of our families," said Mike Henry, Director of Advocacy, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

The Grassley-Bennet Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act has nearly 50 bipartisan cosponsors: Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), David McCormick (R-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

Background:

Children with complex medical conditions cannot always secure specialized care in their home states. When this happens, parents must work with their in-state providers and Medicaid officials to identify out-of-state providers who do offer that care. The process is riddled with regulatory hurdles that often delay, or even prohibit, children from receiving critical medical treatments. The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act helps alleviate these burdens for families, as well as providers.

The legislation builds off the Grassley-Bennet ACE Kids Act, which was signed into law in 2019. Following the bill's enactment, the lawmakers closely monitored implementation to ensure it would be executed as Congress intended.

Grassley was recognized in December 2024 for his persistent efforts to support children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. Learn more HERE.

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