ICYMI: Gus Bilirakis and Kathy Castor update the progress of the ACE Kids Act in Congress

Last week, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14) visited with patients, families, and staff of St. Joseph's Children's Hospital to discuss the bipartisan ACE Kids Act. As the Tampa Dispatch writes, "By coordinating and improving access to care, the ACE Kids Act would help streamline services and reduce the hardships our nation's sickest children and their families must go through."

Biilrakis and Castor are both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and are working with their colleagues to advance this important bill in the coming legislative session. To learn more about the ACE Kids Act, click here.

Gus Bilirakis and Kathy Castor update the progress of the ACE Kids Act in Congress

Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14) today visited with patients and families of St. Joseph's Children's Chronic-Complex to update the progress of the ACE Kids Act in Congress and build momentum on getting it passed this year.

The ACE Kids Act is modeled after the "medical home" concept that originated with St. Joseph's Children's Chronic-Complex Clinic.

"We are making progress and we are here to report today that we intend to pass this bill this year. We have more than 200 bipartisan cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives," Congresswoman Castor said today….

"The ACE Kids Act is a no brainer as far as I'm concerned. The advantages are better outcomes, doctors work as a team, quicker diagnosis, it's cost-efficient." Congressman Bilirakis said today. "Kathy and I are friends, we're partners, we're working in a bipartisan manner not only for the Tampa Bay area, but for the state and country."

By coordinating and improving access to care, the ACE Kids Act would help streamline services and reduce the hardships our nation's sickest children and their families must go through. It has a companion bill in the U.S. Senate and it is supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Children's Hospital Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, the National Military Family Association and the National Down Syndrome Society….

Read the full article online here.