CHA Commends Bipartisan Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act
Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), representing more than 200 children’s hospitals across the country, commends the reauthorization of the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act (CHFRA).
President Biden signed the bipartisan legislation into law on Nov. 21. CHFRA reauthorizes funding for critical research and awareness efforts on the causes, prevention, and development of better treatments for patients with congenital heart disease.
The act extends funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and disability, and increase quality of life for the 2.5 million Americans living with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Additionally, CHFRA reauthorizes the CDC’s awareness-building activities to enhance education among the CHD patient and medical communities and directs the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convene subject matter experts to assess and report upon research gaps and workforce capacity for adult CHD patients.
“Identifying congenital heart defects as early as possible and ensuring children receive the very best care is critical to saving lives and improving outcomes for children,” said Leah Evangelista, chief public affairs and brand officer of Children’s Hospital Association.
CHA thanks Senators Todd Young, R-Ind., and Richard Durbin, D-Pa., and Representatives Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for championing the reauthorization. This bipartisan effort builds upon a law passed in 2018 to expand CDC’s research and awareness efforts of CHD.
About Children's Hospital Association
Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 200 children’s hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost, and delivery of care.
