Lori Trahan: “I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I express my sincere gratitude to Ranking…”

“I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I express my sincere gratitude to Ranking Member Pallone, Chair Rodgers, Ranking Member Eshoo, Chairman Guthrie, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, and my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their unanimous support of this important bipartisan, bicameral legislation. When medical professionals determine that clinical care is necessary to treat a child battling a rare disease, there should be no reason that administrative burdens get in the way. However, that is exactly what happens far too often to children with complex medical needs. In fact, when children with serious health conditions lack access to the specialized care that they need in their home State, parents can be forced to navigate the complicated process of working with healthcare providers and State Medicaid officials to arrange for out-of-State care. Unfortunately, those same parents are often met with burdensome requirements that can lead to significant delays for children in desperate need of care. In some cases, it can prevent access to care entirely. Mr. Speaker, the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act is urgently needed to eliminate this red tape and ensure that children receive appropriate, often lifesaving care that they deserve. Mr.…”