Helping Children with Complex Medical Conditions

Floor Speech

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Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the House's work that aims to improve outcomes for children with complex medical conditions.

As a physician, I have delivered more than 10,000 babies and seen firsthand many of these complex and complicated conditions, often when babies are born prematurely.

Today, there are 33 million children dependent upon Medicaid in our country. Two million of these cases are considered medically complex. It is imperative that we take a compassionate look at the way in which this care is being provided to some of our most vulnerable patients.

I am proud of the legislation the House recently passed to address the way that care is provided for these children. Last week, we passed the IMPROVE Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation included the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act that aims to put our Nation's sickest kids and their families first by improving their care.

These children and their families already face many challenges. Thus, our healthcare system has to work with them by making access to care more manageable and easier to navigate.

Too often, these children are forced to see multiple doctors, sometimes requiring them to go across State lines for treatment. This can be costly, time consuming, and confusing. This bill reduces the burden on families by no longer making them jump through hoops for their children's coverage.

The ACE Act also ensures that each child gets the coverage they need by helping hospitals coordinate across State lines and provides additional resources to families to help them navigate the healthcare system. This coordination will likely reduce emergency visits and inpatient hospitalizations and, ultimately, lower the overall cost of care for these children, while at the same time provide for better outcomes.

In Kansas, 41 percent of children with special healthcare needs are covered by Medicaid. I appreciate the opportunity to make Medicaid a more caring, comprehensive, and efficient system for each and every child with a serious, long-term illness. Importance of Internet Access

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Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, as I have traveled across Kansas, I have heard how a strong Internet connection can impact communities, boost local economies, and create jobs.

Access to the Internet allows small businesses to sell their products across the country and the world. It enables students to access additional learning tools and gives doctors the ability to treat patients in the most remote parts of the district.

Far too often, I am reminded of the complications my district has to get connected. I rise today to highlight the recent steps taken to advance broadband deployment in rural America.

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to provide additional funding to carriers utilizing the Universal Service Fund high-cost program. The high-cost program helps providers deploy broadband infrastructure in extremely rural and hard-to-reach places where the cost to connect is just too high.

I am also excited that the United States Department of Agriculture is working to expand broadband access to our ag producers.

I was grateful to join Secretary Perdue as he announced details of a new broadband pilot program last week at the Department of Agriculture. The program, called ReConnect, targets funding in the forms of grants and loans to areas currently lacking a reliable Internet connection.

Farmers and ranchers need a broadband connection to monitor their operations and increase efficiencies on their farms, which ultimately drives down the cost of doing business.

Connectivity is such a vital part of everyday life, and its importance continues to grow. People's access should not be affected by where they choose to live.

I want that thank Secretary Perdue, Chairman Pai, and President Trump for making broadband deployment a priority.

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