Augmentative and alternative communication devices for children; require Medicaid and private insurance coverage.

SB 2569 would have required Mississippi Medicaid and private health insurance companies to cover communication devices for children under 18 with non-speaking or limited verbal communication needs, regardless of their medical diagnosis. These devices - which include tools like speech-generating apps or picture boards that help children communicate - would need physician approval for coverage. The bill also mandated timely insurance authorization for these devices and prohibited repeated or unjustified coverage denials. This policy change would directly affect families of children with communication disabilities who rely on such devices for education and daily interaction.