1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act”.
Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to streamline enrollment of certain Medicaid providers across State lines, and for other purposes.
2. Streamlined screening and enrollment process for eligible out-of-State Medicaid providers
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 screening and enrollment process for eligible out-of-State providers
“(A) In general—Subject to subsection (a)(65), the State adopts a streamlined screening and enrollment process for eligible out-of-State providers.
“(B) Streamlined screening and enrollment process—For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term streamlined screening and enrollment process means a process that enables an eligible out-of-State provider to enroll as a provider in the State plan on a simplified and streamlined basis in accordance with the requirements of subparagraph (D).
“(C) Eligible out-of-State provider—For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term eligible out-of-State provider means, with respect to a State, a pediatric provider that furnishes medical services to a child (or to an adult if such services are to treat a condition that presented during childhood) for which payment is available under the State plan under this title, if—
“(i) the provider is located in another State and is enrolled as a provider in good standing under the State plan of such other State; and
“(ii) with respect to the category of provider to which such provider belongs, the Secretary has determined there is a limited risk of fraud, waste, or abuse for purposes of determining the level of screening to be conducted under section 1866(j)(2)(B).
“(D) Requirements—For purposes of subparagraph (B), the requirements of this subparagraph are the following:
“(i) An eligible out-of-State provider that elects to be and is enrolled in the program established under this title in accordance with the process established by the Secretary under section 2(b) of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act is enrolled in the State plan under this title without being subject to any additional screening and enrollment activities required by the State.
“(ii) An eligible out-of-State provider that is enrolled in the State plan through the streamlined screening and enrollment process shall be enrolled for a period of 5 years before being required to obtain revalidation.
“(iii) An eligible out-of-State provider that is enrolled in the State plan through the streamlined screening and enrollment process shall be permitted to order all clinically necessary follow-up care, including with respect to the prescribing of medications.”
Coordination with Medicare— The Secretary shall establish a process for permitting a provider the option, when enrolling in the program established under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act pursuant to subpart P of part 424 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), to elect, at the same time, to enroll in the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act for purposes of all State plans under such title XIX. The Secretary may utilize the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (referred to as PECOS), or another national, standardized, and widely accessible platform to establish such process.
Conforming amendments—
Section 1902(a)(77) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(77)), is amended by inserting “enrollment,” after “screening,”.
Section 1902(kk) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(kk)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—
in the subsection heading, by inserting “Enrollment,” after “Screening,”; and
in paragraph (9), by striking “Nothing” and inserting “Except as provided in paragraph (10)(D)(i), nothing”.
Section 2107(e)(1)(F) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)(F)) is amended by inserting “enrollment,” after “screening,”.
Effective date—
In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section take effect on January 1, 2021.
Exception for State legislation— In the case of a State plan for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or a State child health plan under title XXI of such Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services 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 shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title 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.