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H.R. 8200House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Pediatric Access to Critical Healthcare Act

Sponsored by Tony CárdenasRep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
Introduced May 1, 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:18 PM UTC

The Pediatric Access to Critical Healthcare Act amends the Public Health Service Act to create a grant program that funds construction, modernization, and other improvements to pediatric health‑care facilities. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through HRSA, will award the grants to eligible entities such as children’s hospitals, facilities that receive certain federal funds, or nonprofit medical centers that mainly treat patients under 21. The program aims to expand capacity, improve emergency preparedness, strengthen the pediatric workforce, and upgrade digital infrastructure, especially for underserved children.

Key Provisions

  • Grants are awarded to eligible entities (children’s hospitals, facilities eligible for Section 340E funds, or nonprofit medical facilities serving primarily patients under 21) for construction or modernization projects.
  • Funds may be used for expanding pediatric critical‑care spaces, emergency preparedness, workforce training and retention, digital health upgrades, and adding patient‑care capacity.
  • Applications must include project descriptions and cost documentation; the Secretary will consider equitable geographic distribution of awards.
  • Priority is given to entities where over 60% of patients receive Medicaid/CHIP or that serve diverse, traditionally underserved populations.
  • Recipients must provide matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount.
  • Grantees must report project outcomes, and the Secretary must report to Congress every five years starting September 30, 2028.
  • $600 million is authorized each fiscal year from 2025 through 2034 to fund the program.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

May 3, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 1, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 1, 2024

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

May 3, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 1, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8200

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 1, 2024

Mr. Cárdenas (for himself, Mr. Trone, Ms. Strickland, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Chu, Ms. Lee of California, and Mr. Morelle) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants to eligible entities to carry out construction or modernization projects designed to strengthen and increase capacity within the specialized pediatric health care infrastructure, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Pediatric Access to Critical Healthcare Act.

2.

Pediatric health care capacity grants

Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

XIII

Pediatric Health Care Capacity

340J.

Pediatric health care capacity grants

(a)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities to carry out construction or modernization projects designed to strengthen and increase capacity within pediatric health care infrastructure.

(b)

Eligible entities

To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall be a—

(1)

children’s hospital;

(2)

a facility that is eligible to receive funds under Section 340E of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256e); or

(3)

a nonprofit medical facility that predominantly treats individuals under the age of 21.

(c)

Use of funds

An eligible entity selected to receive a grant under subsection (a) may use funds received through the grant for—

(1)

expanding pediatric critical health care infrastructure, including the expansion, renovation, remodeling, and alteration of existing buildings (but not including the cost of acquisition of land or off-site improvements);

(2)

maintaining and enhancing pediatric emergency preparedness;

(3)

increasing the training, development, and retention of the pediatric health care workforce;

(4)

upgrading digital health infrastructure, including upgrades related to preventing and addressing cybersecurity threats;

(5)

building additional patient care capacity to expand access to care; and

(6)

other activities related to strengthening and increasing capacity within the pediatric health care infrastructure, as determined by the Secretary.

(d)

Application

An eligible entity seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(1)

a description of the entity’s planned activities described in subsection (c); and

(2)

such documentation as may be necessary to demonstrate to the Secretary’s satisfaction of the estimated cost of the project for which the grant is made.

(e)

Considerations

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary, to the extent practicable, may ensure equitable distribution of awards among the geographical regions of the United States.

(f)

Priority

In selecting eligible entities to receive a grant under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities—

(1)

for whom over 60 percent of the patients they serve are receiving medical assistance under a State plan (or a waiver of such plan) under title XIX of the Social Security Act or child health assistance under a State child health plan (or a waiver of such plan) under title XXI of such Act; or

(2)

that primarily serve children from diverse and traditionally underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities.

(g)

Supplement, not supplant

Funds provided under this subsection shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in this section.

(h)

Matching funds

An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall provide funds from sources other than funds provided through such grant in an amount that is at least equal to 50 percent of the amount of such grant.

(i)

Reporting

(1)

Reports from grantees

Following project completion, each entity awarded a grant under this section shall submit a report to the Secretary on the activities conducted under such grant, and other information as the Secretary may require.

(2)

Reports to Congress

Not later than September 30, 2028, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the activities conducted through, and outcomes of such projects, funded through the grants under subsection (a). Such reports shall include—

(A)

the number of projects supported by the grants under subsection (a);

(B)

an overview of the impact, if any, of such projects on pediatric health care infrastructure, including any impact on access to health care for pediatric populations; and

(C)

recommendations for improving the grant program under this section, and any other considerations as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(j)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $600,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2034.

.