This legislation aims to significantly improve early detection and treatment of childhood-onset fluency disorders, including stuttering, for young children. It mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services update core child health quality measures by January 1, 2026, to include screening for these disorders in children aged two to six. Furthermore, beginning January 1, 2027, Medicaid well-child visits for children in this age group will be required to include mandatory screening for childhood-onset fluency disorders. The bill also mandates that both Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide coverage for specified speech therapy services for these conditions, effective January 1, 2027. These "specified speech therapy services" are defined as treatment for childhood-onset fluency disorders, explicitly including services delivered via real-time audio and video telecommunications technology. A crucial provision ensures that any treatment limitations applied to speech therapy for these disorders are no more restrictive than those for other speech therapy services already covered under state plans, such as for expressive or receptive language disorders. This aims to guarantee equitable access to necessary care for children experiencing stuttering and similar conditions.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Health
Kidd’s Stuttering Act
USA119th CongressHR-6364| House
| Updated: 12/2/2025
This legislation aims to significantly improve early detection and treatment of childhood-onset fluency disorders, including stuttering, for young children. It mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services update core child health quality measures by January 1, 2026, to include screening for these disorders in children aged two to six. Furthermore, beginning January 1, 2027, Medicaid well-child visits for children in this age group will be required to include mandatory screening for childhood-onset fluency disorders. The bill also mandates that both Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide coverage for specified speech therapy services for these conditions, effective January 1, 2027. These "specified speech therapy services" are defined as treatment for childhood-onset fluency disorders, explicitly including services delivered via real-time audio and video telecommunications technology. A crucial provision ensures that any treatment limitations applied to speech therapy for these disorders are no more restrictive than those for other speech therapy services already covered under state plans, such as for expressive or receptive language disorders. This aims to guarantee equitable access to necessary care for children experiencing stuttering and similar conditions.