Requires health insurers to provide coverage for speech therapy for stuttering

Changed the requirement from 'health care provider licensed to practice in the state of New York' to 'health care professional licensed pursuant to title eight of the education law' for speech therapy services.

Added provisions allowing medical management and utilization review of speech therapy services, and permitting policies to require services through a network of participating providers.

Added physician referral requirement for speech therapy coverage under several sections of the insurance law.

Added exceptions allowing coverage denial when speech therapy is provided under an individualized family service plan or individualized education plan, while maintaining coverage for supplemental services outside educational settings.

Changed the effective date from 'one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law' to 'first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law'.