Children's Hospital Association (CHA) responded to a request for information (RFI) from Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden on proposals to lower costs, expand coverage, and address barriers to care in the private insurance market. CHA urged policymakers to put children at the center of future reforms, particularly as recent Medicaid cuts, chronic Medicaid underpayment, and other pressures threaten children’s access to care and strain the resources children's hospitals rely on to sustain specialized services.
The letter also provides specific recommendations for strengthening pediatric coverage, reducing prior authorization barriers, and ensuring that every child has access to the services they need to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.