Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill streamlines how out-of-state doctors and hospitals enroll in a state's Medicaid or CHIP program to treat children. Right now, providers often face lengthy paperwork and screening requirements in each state, which can delay access to specialized care for kids.
• If a provider is already enrolled in Medicare or another state's Medicaid program and has been screened as low-risk for fraud, they can use a simplified enrollment process. States cannot impose screening or enrollment requirements beyond the minimum needed for payment, such as the provider's name and National Provider Identifier.
• The bill covers any Medicaid or CHIP enrollee under the age of 21. This is especially helpful for children with rare diseases or complex conditions who need to travel to specialized hospitals in other states.
• Once enrolled through this streamlined process, providers stay enrolled for five years unless they are terminated or excluded during that period. This eliminates the need for repeated re-enrollment paperwork.
• States have three years after the bill is signed into law to implement the new streamlined enrollment systems, giving them time to update their technology and administrative processes.