119th (2025–2027)
S. 5172
The Kidd's Stuttering Act amends federal health programs to expand screening and treatment coverage for childhood stuttering and other speech fluency disorders. Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill requires the federal government to add screening measures for speech fluency disorders in children ages two to six to Medicaid's core quality metrics, and starting January 1, 2029, it mandates that Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover speech therapy services for treating these disorders in children under twenty-one. The legislation ensures that treatment limits for stuttering and fluency disorders cannot be more restrictive than limits applied to other speech disorders like articulation problems, and it allows these services to be delivered through telehealth. The bill affects millions of low-income children covered by Medicaid and CHIP, though no specific federal funding amounts are authorized in the text, meaning states will need to incorporate these services into their existing program budgets.