policy

August 18, 2016

The Honorable Michael Bennet
United States Senate
261 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Charles Grassley
United State Senate
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Sent Via Email

Senators Bennet and Grassley:

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments to the revised draft of your legislation entitled the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2016 (ACE Kids Act). Over the past year, you and other members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives 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.

ACAP is an association of 57 health plans (including Denver Health Plan and Colorado Access) in 24 states that serve 17 million Americans in Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and lowincome 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 plans 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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