Monthly Vitals: Your Advocacy Update

Support for military-connected families

A CHA report underscores Medicaid’s significance in enabling health care access for nearly 3 million children in military-connected families. The report also highlights how children’s hospitals are a crucial resource for military and veteran families.

More than 2.3 million children in the U.S. help care for, or are impacted by, an active duty or veteran family member. CHA joined the Hidden Helper Coalition to advocate for the mental health needs of children and teens in caregiving homes. By partnering with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Nemours Children’s Health, and other members of the Coalition, we can make a greater impact for these families.

Nemours Children’s co-hosted an event with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del) to raise awareness of the unique needs of children living with a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran. The TRICARE for Kids Coalition, of which CHA is a member, sent a letter to Congressional Armed Services leaders sharing recommendations to improve care and access to care — including access to children’s hospitals — for military-connected children in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

National IV fluid shortage

CHA sent a letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting the Department of Health and Human Services prioritize pediatric needs with access to IV fluid products. Lack of access to these products is especially critical for pediatric patients, like premature infants, who require additional nutritional support. HHS has since taken action on many of CHA's recommendations in the letter. Children are not little adults. As Congress develops health care policy, we encourage you to prioritize and consider the unique needs of children and the providers who serve them, like children’s hospitals.

Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) works with policymakers in Congress and the administration to advocate for policies that allow children's hospitals and health systems to provide effective, patient-first care and ensure every child has access to high-quality, cost-effective health care services.

Here are the latest updates from CHA’s advocacy efforts.

Legislative efforts

The House passed H.R. 4758, the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, which improves children’s access to needed out-of-state health care by streamlining the burdensome and time-consuming Medicaid provider screening and enrollment process.

The House also passed H.R. 3433, Give Kids a Chance Act, which allows children to access cutting-edge clinical trials and combination drugs to treat pediatric cancer.

Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Michael McCaul (R-TX), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), championed getting these critical bills through the House and on to the Senate.

Panel discussions

In September, CHA hosted a panel on sickle cell disease at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. The session featured experts from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Texas Children’s, a patient advocate, and pediatric patients, including Canaan from UH Rainbow Babies in Cleveland.

Canaan’s story reveals the critical need for children and families impacted by sickle cell disease to access life-changing therapies. Learn more about the unique role of children’s hospitals and innovative high-cost therapies.

Childhood Cancer Summit

CHA participated in the 15th Annual Childhood Cancer Summit, where pediatricians from Texas Children’s and Seattle Children’s, pediatric patients, oncologists, and lawmakers spoke on the importance and need for improved pediatric care.

The summit concluded with a two-part presentation on groundbreaking gene and cell therapy research for pediatric cancer treatments. The Childhood Cancer Caucus is led by co-chairs Michael McCaul (R-TX), Kathy Castor (R-FL), Ami Bera (D-CA), and Mike Kelly (R-PA).

Children are not little adults. As Congress develops health care policy, we encourage you to prioritize and consider the unique needs of children and the providers who serve them, like children’s hospitals.