To: A.

Donald McEachin
From: Melanie Carlson
Date: March 26th, 2019
Subject: S.317 ACE Kids Act of 2019

As of today, Medicaid covers more than 37 million children for healthcare. Although this
number is very large, there is still a disproportionate percentage of children being covered who
have developed complex medical conditions (Children’s Hospital Association [CHA], 2019).
Medicaid has flourished throughout the year for many families, but this bill would encourage
proper healthcare for the sickest children on a national level. The ACE Kids Act would broaden
the access for patient and pediatric focused care that are specific for children with severe
illnesses. (CHA, 2019). I fully support the S.317 ACE Kids Act of 2019, as I believe it will
benefit many children who have difficulty accessing healthcare because of the complexity of
their sickness.

From the millions of children covered by Medicaid, about two-thirds have complex medical
conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, down syndrome, and many more health
challenges (US Senate Committee on Finance, 2019). The complexity of these illnesses usually
requires patients and their families to travel out-of-state to receive proper care. The cost of travel,
multiple Emergency Room (ER) visits, and the overall accountability on the family all eventually
add up. This proposed bill will improve coordinate care, decrease costs, and promote quality
outcomes and treatment for those with rare conditions (US Senate Committee on Finance, 2019).
 The concept of ACE Kids Act (Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act) has been
demonstrated through the Center or Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) and
showed decreased costs by 2.6 percent while also creating a better experience for the
patient (CHA, 2019).
 CMMI also developed the Coordinating All Resources Effectively award which involved
the participating of 10 children’s hospitals and Medicaid programs from eight different
states. The results concluded a reduction in emergency room visits by 26 percent and a
decrease in inpatient days by 32 percent (CHA, 2019).
 Previous like bills were proposed in the past suggested a grant of $25 million. The ACE
Kids Act has now decreased costs to only $5 million in grants (Luthi, 2018).

Recommendations: Vote to pass the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act (ACE) of 2019.
Having a severe illness has already taken a large impact on these children’s lives. Including
multiple ER visits, out-of-state treatment, and high expenses, this bill could result in giving
young children fuller and healthier lives. Spreading pediatric health homes to a nationally level
and increasing research for rare diseases in children would improve patient care and outcomes
immensely. I recommend the coverage through Medicare be consistent from state to state, if and
when the child would need to travel for medical attention. Consistency would cause less burden
on family members and ensure children are receiving the adequate care they need.

Children should not have to worry about if they will receive treatment or not based on their
Medicare coverage. I will maintain my support to the S.317 ACE Kids Act of 2019 with hope
that children will be able to live healthy, full, and happy lives.
 References

Children’s Hospital Association (March 2019). Pass the ACE Kids Act. Retrieved from

https://www.childrenshospitals.org/-/media/Files/CHA/Main/Issues_and_Advocacy/Key_Is

sues/Children_With_Medical_Complexity/Talking_Points/ACE_Kids_Act_talking_points.

pdf

United States Senate Committee on Finance (February 05, 2019). Grassley, Bennet Reintroduce

ACE Kids Act to Improve Care for Kids with Complex Medical Conditions Enrolled in

Medicaid. Retrieved from https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/grassley-

bennet-reintroduce-ace-kids-act-to-improve-care-for-kids-with-complex-medical-

conditions-enrolled-in-medicaid

Luthi, Susannah. (December 10, 2018). Congress to pass children’s health home legislation by

year-end. Modern Healthcare. Retrieved by

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20181210/NEWS/181219991/congress-to-pass-

children-s-health-home-legislation-by-year-end