Herrera Beutler bill gets Trump signature

A bill introduced by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, to make it easier for medically complex children to access care over state lines was signed into law last week.

The Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act, or ACE Kids Act, was wrapped into a broader package of Medicaid bills, H.R. 1839. It’s meant to better coordinate resources for parents with children who often need to seek treatment from different medical specialists in multiple states.

The law establishes a state Medicaid option to pay for “coordinated care provided through a health home (i.e., a designated provider or team of health-care professionals),” according to the bill. It increases the federal matching rate by 20 percentage points.

In a media release, Herrera Beutler said she had been pushing for the legislation since 2014.

“This health care solution to benefit low-income children has been a long time coming, and I couldn’t be more proud to finally have it signed into law. Now, tens of thousands of low-income kids who suffer complex medical diagnoses like cancer or congenital heart disease will have an easier time accessing the life-saving treatment they need,” said Herrera Beutler, who is the mother of a medically complex child. “Families should be able to pursue the best doctors and facilities for their kids, regardless of where they live or how much they make.”

President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1839 into law on April 18.