Below are current legislation and policies ACHA supports in the areas of our four key priorities of increasing funding for research, improving access to care, growing awareness of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), and ensuring people with ACHD have a voice in all aspects of their care. Learn more about these priorities on our Advocate webpage.
The Stroke Act
ACHA supports the Stroke Act (S.5260), introduced by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) to improve stroke prevention, treatment, recovery, and data collection across the U.S. Specifically, the legislation would authorize funding to advance research to improve stroke care; establish a national stroke registry; strengthen emergency medical services, rehabilitation, care coordination, and telestroke access; and support a nationwide stroke prevention and education campaign. The Stroke Act is critical to our community of more than 1.4 million adults living with CHD. Adults with CHD are at higher risk for stroke than the average American and are at much higher risk at younger ages than people without a CHD. As children with CHD grow into their 40s, 50s, and 60s, they have unique risk factors such as arrhythmias, blood clots, and heart failure on top of the traditional risk factors associated with aging-related acquired heart disease.
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act
ACHA supported the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (H.R. 4758/S. 2372), also called AKACA and reintroduced as the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act of 2025 (H.R.1509). This legislation was originally introduced during the 118th Congress and was signed into law in February 2026 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (Section 6101). It requires states to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may temporarily treat children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) without undergoing additional screening requirements. Specifically, states must establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll for five years as participating providers to treat individuals under the age of 21 without undergoing additional screening requirements. This legislation can support some young adults with congenital heart conditions to receive the specialized care they need, especially in regions where they need to cross state lines to find an ACHD provider.
Learn about the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act.
The Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024
ACHA successfully advocated for passage of the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 7189/S. 3757). This legislation, also known as CHFRA, authorizes up to $10 million in annual federal funding for CHD programs at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to deliver a report to Congress that will study and make recommendations to address the shortage of providers with expertise in ACHD.
Learn about the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024.
House Resolution Supporting Awareness of Young Adults with Chronic Conditions
In late 2023, ACHA supported a resolution introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), expressing support for raising awareness of the growing population of young adults living with chronic health conditions. Complex CHD was highlighted, and the resolution called for increased awareness, research, interagency data-sharing, and acknowledgment of the long-term health and social impacts of chronic illnesses.
Read the resolution.
Find out what ACHA’s CEO and President Mark Roeder said about the resolution.
Contact us about legislation and policies in your area that we should track or support.
Updated 8/26/2026