S. 2372Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act

Introduced July 19, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 10:06 AM UTC

The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act amends the Social Security Act to make it easier for qualified out‑of‑state health providers to join a state’s Medicaid or CHIP program. It lets these providers enroll without extra state screening, so children under 21 with complex medical needs can more quickly get care across state lines.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new paragraph (10) to §1902(kk) creating a streamlined enrollment process for eligible out‑of‑state providers, allowing enrollment for a five‑year period unless the provider is terminated or excluded.
  • Defines “eligible out‑of‑state provider” (must provide federally funded services, be located in another state, have low fraud risk, be screened under Medicare or its home state plan, and not be excluded) and “qualifying individual” as anyone under 21 receiving treatment.
  • States must adopt the streamlined process unless they already have a standard agreement with other states for covering Medicaid‑eligible children with medically complex conditions.
  • Updates related sections to insert the word “enrollment” after “screening” for consistency.
  • Effective two years after enactment, with a grace period for states that need to pass legislation to meet the new requirements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

July 19, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 19, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

July 19, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 19, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2372

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 19, 2023

Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Brown, Mr. Vance, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Kelly, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Markey, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to streamline enrollment under the Medicaid program of certain providers across State lines, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act.

2.

Streamlined enrollment process for eligible out-of-State providers under Medicaid and CHIP

(a)

In general

Section 1902(kk) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(kk)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(10)

Streamlined enrollment process for eligible out-of-State providers

(A)

In general

The State adopts and implements a process that enables an eligible out-of-State provider to enroll as a participating provider in the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) without the imposition of additional screening requirements by the State, unless the State has a standard agreement with other States governing coverage and payment for services furnished to Medicaid-eligible children with medically complex conditions that was developed in accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary under section 1945A. An eligible out-of-State provider that enrolls as a participating provider in the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) through such process shall be enrolled for a 5-year period unless the provider is terminated or excluded from participation during such period.

(B)

Definitions

In this paragraph:

(i)

Eligible out-of-State provider

The term eligible out-of-State provider means, with respect to a State, a provider—

(I)

that furnishes to a qualifying individual any item or service for which Federal financial assistance is available under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan);

(II)

that is located in any other State;

(III)

with respect to which the Secretary has determined (or, in the case of a provider for which no risk level determination has been made by the Secretary, the State agency administering or supervising the administration of the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) has determined) there is a limited risk of fraud, waste, and abuse for purposes of determining the level of screening to be conducted under section 1866(j)(2) (except that, if such State agency has designated a higher risk level for the provider than the Secretary, the State agency's designation shall apply);

(IV)

that has been screened under such section 1866(j)(2) and enrolled in the Medicare program under title XVIII, or screened under paragraph (1) of this subsection and enrolled in the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) in which such provider is located; and

(V)

that has not been excluded from participation in any Federal health care program pursuant to section 1128 or 1128A, excluded from participation in the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) pursuant to part 1002 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, or State law, or terminated from participating in a Federal health care program or the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) for a reason described in paragraph (8)(A) of this subsection.

(ii)

Qualifying individual

The term qualifying individual means, with respect to an eligible out-of-State provider, an individual under 21 years of age to whom the provider furnishes items and services for the treatment of a condition.

(iii)

State

The term State means 1 of the 50 States or the District of Columbia.

.

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Section 1902(a)(77) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(77)) is amended by inserting enrollment, after screening,.

(2)

The subsection heading for section 1902(kk) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(kk))is amended by inserting Enrollment, after Screening,.

(3)

Section 2107(e)(1)(G) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)(G)) is amended by inserting enrollment, after screening,.

(c)

Effective date

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2)

Exception for State legislation

In the case of a State plan under Medicaid or a State child health plan under CHIP which the Secretary 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 or State child health plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of Medicaid or CHIP, respectively, 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.