policy

August 1, 2016

The Honorable Fred Upton
Chairman, Energy and Commerce Committee
United States House of Representatives
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Frank Pallone
Ranking Member, Energy and Commerce Committee
United States House of Representatives
2322A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

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Chairman Alexander, Senator Murray, Chairman Upton and Representative Pallone:

Over the past year, the House of Representatives and the United States Senate have worked to build support for legislation addressing the health care needs of medically complex children. The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) and our member health plans, many of which already provide high quality coverage and care coordination to this special population, applaud Congress’ desire to ensure that children with special health care needs receive the care they need. Today, I write with ACAP’s response to the new draft of the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2016 (ACE Kids Act) circulated by the Energy and Commerce Committee last month.

ACAP is an association of 56 health plans in 26 states that serve 17 million Americans in Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and low-income persons receiving coverage through the health insurance Marketplaces. States and the Federal government have turned to managed care organizations (MCOs) to provide coordinated, integrated care for people with public health insurance coverage. These MCOs integrate care to assess member needs, identify treatment gaps, engage members, develop individualized care plans, and coordinate care.

Those of our member plan members who work with their states to provide Medicaid to children with special health care needs have built effective models of care to improve both the health of the children and the quality of life of their families.

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