December 2, 2025
Mr. McDowell (for himself, Mr. Figures, and Mr. Vindman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To amend titles XI, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act with respect to screening for childhood onset fluency disorders, and to require coverage of certain speech therapy services under Medicaid and CHIP.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Kidd’s Stuttering Act
.
Sec. 2. Expanding screening and requiring coverage of certain speech therapy services under Medicaid and CHIP
(a) Inclusion of screening for stuttering and speech fluency in core set of child health quality measures
Section 1139A(b)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–9a(b)(5)) is amended—
(1)
by striking Beginning no later than
and inserting the following:
(A) In general
Beginning no later than; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(B) Screening for stuttering and speech fluency
(i) In general
Not later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall publish changes to the core measures described in subsection (a) to include measures of screening for childhood-onset fluency disorders, including stuttering, for children who have attained the age of 2 (and have not attained the age of 6).
(ii) Publication
The Secretary shall publish the changes required by clause (i) at the same time and in the same manner as the relevant annual recommended changes required under subparagraph (A).
(b) Required screening for stuttering and speech fluency in Medicaid well-Child visits
Section 1905(r)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(r)(1)(B)) is amended—
(1)
in clause (iv), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and inserting , and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new clause:
(vi)
beginning January 1, 2027, for children who have attained the age of 2 (and have not attained the age of 6), screening for childhood-onset fluency disorders, including stuttering.
(c) Required coverage of certain speech therapy services
(1) Medicaid
Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) is amended—
(A)
in section 1902(a)—
(i)
in paragraph (10)(A), by striking and (30)
and inserting (30), and (32)
;
(ii)
in paragraph (88)(B)(iii), by striking and
at the end;
(iii)
in paragraph (89), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(iv)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(90)
provide that the treatment limitations applicable to specified speech therapy services (as defined in section 1905(ll)) are no more restrictive than the treatment limitations applicable to any speech therapy services for the treatment of expressive language disorder, receptive language disorder, mixed expressive and receptive language disorder, or articulation, for which medical assistance is provided under the State plan (or waiver of such plan).; and
(B)
in section 1905—
(i)
in subsection (a)—
(I)
in paragraph (31), by striking and
at the end;
(II)
by redesignating paragraph (32) as paragraph (33); and
(III)
by inserting after paragraph (31) the following new paragraph:
(32)
beginning on January 1, 2027, specified speech therapy services (as defined in subsection (ll)); and; and
(ii)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(ll) Specified speech therapy services
For purposes of subsection (a)(32), the term specified speech therapy services—
(1)
means speech therapy services for the treatment of childhood-onset fluency disorders, including stuttering; and
(2)
includes such services delivered through real-time, audio and video telecommunications technology.
(2) CHIP
(A) In general
Section 2103(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397cc(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(13) Required coverage of certain speech therapy services
Beginning January 1, 2027, the child health assistance provided to a targeted low-income child shall include coverage of specified speech therapy services (as such term is defined in section 1905(ll)).
(B) Treatment parity
Section 2107(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)) is amended—
(i)
by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (W) as subparagraphs (J) through (X), respectively; and
(ii)
by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following new subparagraph:
(I)
Section 1902(a)(90) (relating to parity in coverage of speech therapy services).