H.R. 6364: Kidd’s Stuttering Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the Kidd’s Stuttering Act, aims to improve the identification and treatment of stuttering and other speech fluency disorders in children. Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Screening for Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorders

The bill mandates the inclusion of screening for childhood-onset fluency disorders, such as stuttering, in the core child health quality measures. This requirement will begin on or before January 1, 2026. Specifically, the Secretary will need to publish updated guidelines to ensure that children aged 2 to 6 are screened for these conditions during health assessments.

Medicaid and CHIP Requirements

The bill expands on existing Medicaid requirements to ensure that stuttering and speech fluency screenings are a part of regular well-child visits. Starting January 1, 2027, these screenings will be required for the same age group initially mentioned.

Coverage of Speech Therapy Services

In terms of Medicaid services, the bill requires specific coverage for speech therapy services aimed at treating childhood-onset fluency disorders, such as stuttering. This includes:

Ensuring that treatment limitations for these speech therapy services are not more restrictive than those for other language disorders.
Providing access to speech therapy services through telehealth methods, such as real-time video and audio communications.

The coverage for these services under Medicaid will take effect on January 1, 2027, meaning therapy for stuttering will be included under the standard treatment provisions for children.

CHIP Amendments

Similar provisions will apply to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Beginning January 1, 2027, the program will be required to provide coverage for speech therapy services that treat stuttering and related fluency disorders. Additionally, the bill ensures that CHIP includes treatment parity for these services, aligning coverage with that of other speech disorders.

Conclusion of Key Provisions

In summary, this bill seeks to enhance the detection and treatment of stuttering in children by requiring screening and establishing comprehensive coverage for necessary speech therapy through Medicaid and CHIP.