Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 922
By
Senator Smith
17-00939B-26 2026922__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to coverage for treatment of
3 stuttering; amending s. 409.906, F.S.; authorizing the
4 Agency for Health Care Administration to pay for
5 certain services and devices as a treatment for
6 stuttering for Medicaid recipients; providing
7 requirements for such coverages; authorizing speech
8 therapy in person and via telehealth as a treatment
9 for stuttering; authorizing the agency to include the
10 use of certain communication technologies,
11 applications, and platforms for such telehealth
12 treatment; providing definitions; authorizing the
13 agency to seek federal approval for a specified
14 purpose; creating ss. 627.64192, 627.66912, and
15 641.3109, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring
16 certain individual health insurance policies, group
17 health insurance policies, and health maintenance
18 contracts, respectively, to provide coverage for
19 specified services and devices as treatments for
20 stuttering; providing requirements for such coverages;
21 authorizing speech therapy in person and via
22 telehealth; providing requirements for telehealth
23 coverage; providing an effective date.
24
25 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27 Section 1. Subsection (30) is added to section 409.906,
28 Florida Statutes, to read:
29 409.906 Optional Medicaid services.—Subject to specific
30 appropriations, the agency may make payments for services which
31 are optional to the state under Title XIX of the Social Security
32 Act and are furnished by Medicaid providers to recipients who
33 are determined to be eligible on the dates on which the services
34 were provided. Any optional service that is provided shall be
35 provided only when medically necessary and in accordance with
36 state and federal law. Optional services rendered by providers
37 in mobile units to Medicaid recipients may be restricted or
38 prohibited by the agency. Nothing in this section shall be
39 construed to prevent or limit the agency from adjusting fees,
40 reimbursement rates, lengths of stay, number of visits, or
41 number of services, or making any other adjustments necessary to
42 comply with the availability of moneys and any limitations or
43 directions provided for in the General Appropriations Act or
44 chapter 216. If necessary to safeguard the state’s systems of
45 providing services to elderly and disabled persons and subject
46 to the notice and review provisions of s. 216.177, the Governor
47 may direct the Agency for Health Care Administration to amend
48 the Medicaid state plan to delete the optional Medicaid service
49 known as “Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally
50 Disabled.” Optional services may include:
51
(30)
HABILITATIVE AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES AND DEVICES
52
FOR TREATMENT OF STUTTERING.—
53
(a)
The agency may pay for the following services and
54
devices as a treatment of stuttering for a recipient:
55
1.
Habilitative services and devices, including
56
habilitative speech therapy, regardless of whether the
57
stuttering is classified as developmental.
58
2.
Rehabilitative services and devices, including
59
rehabilitative speech therapy.
60
3.
Both habilitative services and devices and
61
rehabilitative services and devices as provided in subparagraphs
62
1. and 2., respectively.
63
(b)1.
The coverage for habilitative services and devices
64
and rehabilitative services and devices provided under paragraph
65
(a) is not subject to any limit:
66
a.
On the number of visits a recipient may make to a
67
speech-language pathologist; or
68
b.
Based on the type of disease, injury, disorder, or other
69
medical condition that resulted in the stuttering.
70
2.
The habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative
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speech therapy provided under paragraph (a) may be rendered in
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person or via telehealth. For reimbursement for speech therapy
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rendered via telehealth, the agency may also include the use of
74
any communication technology, application, or platform to
75
deliver telehealth services which complies with applicable
76
privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and
77
Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. ss. 1320d et seq., as
78
amended.
79
(c)
As used in this subsection, the term:
80
1.
“Habilitative services and devices” means health care
81
services and assistive technology devices that help a person
82
learn, maintain, or improve skills and functioning for daily
83
living.
84
2.
“Habilitative speech therapy” means speech therapy that
85
helps a person learn, maintain, or improve skills and
86
functioning for daily living.
87
3.
“Rehabilitative services and devices” means restorative
88
and remedial services and assistive technology devices that
89
maintain or enhance the current level of functioning of a person
90
if there is a possibility of improvement or reversal of
91
impairment.
92
4.
“Rehabilitative speech therapy” means restorative and
93
remedial speech therapy that maintains or enhances the current
94
level of functioning of a person if there is a possibility of
95
improvement or reversal of impairment.
96
(d)
The agency may seek federal approval necessary to
97
implement this subsection.
98 Section 2. Section 627.64192, Florida Statutes, is created
99 to read:
100
627.64192
Coverage for treatment of stuttering.—
101
(1)
As used in this section, the term:
102
(a)
“Habilitative services and devices” means health care
103
services and assistive technology devices that help a person
104
learn, maintain, or improve skills and functioning for daily
105
living.
106
(b)
“Habilitative speech therapy” means speech therapy that
107
helps a person learn, maintain, or improve skills and
108
functioning for daily living.
109
(c)
“Rehabilitative services and devices” means restorative
110
and remedial services and assistive technology devices that
111
maintain or enhance the current level of functioning of a person
112
if there is a possibility of improvement or reversal of
113
impairment.
114
(d)
“Rehabilitative speech therapy” means restorative and
115
remedial speech therapy that maintains or enhances the current
116
level of functioning of a person if there is a possibility of
117
improvement or reversal of impairment.
118
(2)(a)
A health insurance policy that provides coverage
119
for:
120
1.
Habilitative services and devices must provide coverage
121
for habilitative services and devices as a treatment for
122
stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy, regardless of
123
whether the stuttering is classified as developmental.
124
2.
Rehabilitative services and devices must provide
125
coverage for rehabilitative services and devices as a treatment
126
for stuttering, including rehabilitative speech therapy.
127
3.
Both habilitative services and devices and
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rehabilitative services and devices must provide the coverages
129
required under subparagraphs 1. and 2.
130
(b)
The coverage for habilitative services and devices and
131
rehabilitative services and devices required under paragraph
132
(a):
133
1.
May not be subject to:
134
a.
Any limit on maximum annual benefits, including any
135
limit on the number of visits an insured may make to a speech
136
language pathologist;
137
b.
Any limit based on the type of disease, injury,
138
disorder, or other medical condition that resulted in the
139
stuttering; or
140
c.
Any utilization review or utilization management
141
requirement, including prior authorization or a determination
142
that the habilitative services and devices or rehabilitative
143
services and devices are medically necessary.
144
2.
Must include coverage for speech therapy provided in
145
person and via telehealth. The telehealth coverage provided
146
under this paragraph:
147
a.
May not be less than the coverage for in-person speech
148
therapy.
149
b.
Must include the use of any communication technology,
150
application, or platform to deliver telehealth services which
151
complies with applicable privacy provisions of the Health
152
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C.
153
ss. 1320d et seq., as amended.
154 Section 3. Section 627.66912, Florida Statutes, is created
155 to read:
156
627.66912
Coverage for treatment of stuttering.—
157
(1)
As used in this section, the term:
158
(a)
“Habilitative services and devices” means health care
159
services and assistive technology devices that help a person
160
learn, maintain,
or improve skills and functioning for daily
161
living.
162
(b)
“Habilitative speech therapy” means speech therapy that
163
helps a person learn, maintain, or improve skills and
164
functioning for daily living.
165
(c)
“Rehabilitative services and devices” means restorative
166
and remedial services and assistive technology devices that
167
maintain or enhance the current level of functioning of a person
168
if there is a possibility of improvement or reversal of
169
impairment.
170
(d)
“Rehabilitative speech therapy” means restorative and
171
remedial speech therapy that maintains or enhances the current
172
level of functioning of a person if there is a possibility of
173
improvement or reversal of impairment.
174
(2)(a)
A health insurance policy that provides coverage
175
for:
176
1.
Habilitative services and devices must provide coverage
177
for habilitative services and devices as a treatment for
178
stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy, regardless of
179
whether the stuttering is classified as developmental.
180
2.
Rehabilitative services and devices must provide
181
coverage for rehabilitative services and devices as a treatment
182
for stuttering, including rehabilitative speech therapy.
183
3.
Both habilitative services and devices and
184
rehabilitative services and devices must provide the coverages
185
required under subparagraphs 1. and 2.
186
(b)
The coverage for habilitative services and devices and
187
rehabilitative services and devices required under paragraph
188
(a):
189
1.
May not be subject to:
190
a.
Any limit on maximum annual benefits, including any
191
limit on the number of visits an insured may make to a speech
192
language pathologist;
193
b.
Any limit based on the type of disease, injury,
194
disorder, or other medical condition that resulted in the
195
stuttering; or
196
c.
Any utilization review or utilization management
197
requirement, including prior authorization or a determination
198
that the habilitative services and devices or rehabilitative
199
services and devices are medically necessary.
200
2.
Must include coverage for speech therapy provided in
201
person and via telehealth. The telehealth coverage provided
202
under this paragraph:
203
a.
May not be less than the coverage for in-person speech
204
therapy.
205
b.
Must include the use of any communication technology,
206
application, or platform to deliver telehealth services which
207
complies with applicable privacy provisions of the Health
208
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C.
209
ss. 1320d et seq., as amended.
210 Section 4. Section 641.3109, Florida Statutes, is created
211 to read:
212
641.3109
Coverage for treatment of stuttering.—
213
(1)
As used in this section, the term:
214
(a)
“Habilitative services and devices” means health care
215
services and assistive technology devices that help a person
216
learn, maintain, or improve skills and functioning for daily
217
living.
218
(b)
“Habilitative speech therapy” means speech therapy that
219
helps a person learn, maintain, or improve skills and
220
functioning for daily living.
221
(c)
“Rehabilitative services and devices” means restorative
222
and remedial services and assistive technology devices that
223
maintain or enhance the current level of functioning of a person
224
if there is a possibility of improvement or reversal of
225
impairment.
226
(d)
“Rehabilitative speech therapy” means restorative and
227
remedial speech therapy that maintains or enhances the current
228
level of functioning of a person if there is a possibility of
229
improvement or reversal of impairment.
230
(2)(a)
A health maintenance contract that provides coverage
231
for:
232
1.
Habilitative services and devices must provide coverage
233
for habilitative services and devices as a treatment for
234
stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy, regardless of
235
whether the stuttering is classified as developmental.
236
2.
Rehabilitative services and devices must provide
237
coverage for rehabilitative services and devices as a treatment
238
for stuttering, including rehabilitative speech therapy.
239
3.
Both habilitative services and devices and
240
rehabilitative services and devices must provide the coverages
241
required under subparagraphs 1. and 2.
242
(b)
The coverage for habilitative services and devices and
243
rehabilitative services and devices required under paragraph
244
(a):
245
1.
May not be subject to:
246
a.
Any limit on maximum annual benefits, including any
247
limit on the number of visits a subscriber may make to a speech
248
language pathologist;
249
b.
Any limit based on the type of disease, injury,
250
disorder, or other medical condition that resulted in the
251
stuttering; or
252
c.
Any utilization review or utilization management
253
requirement, including prior authorization or a determination
254
that the habilitative services and devices or rehabilitative
255
services and devices are medically necessary.
256
2.
Must include coverage for speech therapy provided in
257
person and via telehealth. The telehealth coverage provided
258
under this paragraph:
259
a.
May not be less than the coverage for in-person speech
260
therapy.
261
b.
Must include the use of any communication technology,
262
application, or platform to deliver telehealth services which
263
complies with applicable privacy provisions of the Health
264
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C.
265
ss. 1320d et seq., as amended.
266 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.