WASHINGTON—The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) applauds the enactment of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act . This bipartisan law removes longstanding administrative barriers that have delayed access to out-of-state specialty care for children with complex or congenital medical conditions.
These policy changes are lifesaving for families in need of specialized pediatric cardiac care. For those who live in rural or underserved areas, that care is often only available at regional centers across state lines.
“Across the United States, children with complex congenital heart disease often require care from highly specialized pediatric interventional cardiologists, yet that expertise is not available in every community. By creating a streamlined national enrollment pathway, the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act reduces unnecessary administrative barriers and helps ensure children can receive timely, coordinated care based on medical need and specialized expertise rather than geography,” said SCAI President Srihari S. Naidu, MD, MSCAI . “Children live in the United States, and state boundaries should not limit access to care that is both highly specialized and difficult to find. SCAI applauds Congress and Representatives Lori Trahan and Mariannette Miller-Meeks for working to get this bill included in the appropriations bill and for advancing bipartisan legislation that meaningfully improves access for children and families already facing the emotional and physical toll of congenital heart disease.”
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act was incorporated into H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, and signed into law on February 3. The provision establishes a streamlined Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment process for eligible out-of-state providers, allowing children to receive care from specialists when that expertise is unavailable in their home state.
Under the previous system, families often faced weeks or months of delays as out-of-state pediatric specialists were required to undergo duplicative screening and enrollment in a child’s home-state Medicaid program, even if they were already enrolled and credentialed in another state. For children with congenital heart disease and other complex conditions, those delays could postpone medically necessary, time-sensitive care.
“This legislation is about putting children and families first,” said Dr. Miller-Meeks. “When a child has a complex medical condition, time matters. Families should not have to navigate endless red tape to access the best possible care for their child. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act helps ensure children can get timely, coordinated, life-saving treatment when and where it’s available.”
The legislation aligns with SCAI’s broader advocacy efforts to address workforce shortages, administrative burdens, and inequities that limit access to specialized cardiovascular care for children and adults living with congenital heart disease. Through ongoing engagement with policymakers and federal agencies, SCAI continues to advocate for policies that put patients first and allow physicians to focus on delivering care rather than navigating bureaucracy.
About SCAI
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a professional organization representing more than 5,000 invasive and interventional cardiology professionals in approximately 75 nations. SCAI's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. www.scai.org