On Oct. 10, PEN LEG passed bill on speech therapy for stuttering.
PEN LEG passed bill HB 2268, providing insurance for speech therapy for stuttering.
Adds new Section 635.9 to The insurance company law of 1921 for Pennsylvania.
Bill Provisions
Health insurance policies offered and issued in commonwealth shall provide coverage for habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy treatment for childhood stuttering.
Coverage shall be subject to the terms and conditions of a health insurance policy.
Including provisions relating to medical necessity, cost-sharing and utilization review.
Bill adds the definition of childhood stuttering, cost-sharing, habilitative speech therapy treatment, rehabilitative speech therapy treatment, and speech therapy definition.
Shall not be construed to require an insurer to provide school-based speech therapy based solely on the inclusion of the therapy in an individualized education program.
Applies to health insurance policies issued or renewed within 180 days of effectiveness.
Legislative History
On May 3, 2024, bill was introduced in House; on Jun. 26, 2024, bill passed in House.
On Jul. 12, 2024, bill was introduced in Senate; on Oct. 9, 2024, bill passed in Senate
On Oct. 10, 2024, bill was delivered to governor and is pending review and approval.
Effectiveness
If approved, act takes effect in 60 days.
Oct. 2024 PEN LEG Governor Approval
On Oct. 16, 2024, PEN LEG reported governor approved HB 2268 as Act 104 of 2024.
Act 104 will be effective sixty days after governor's approval, that is, Dec. 15, 2024.
