S 3654 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requires health insurers to provide coverage for speech therapy for stuttering

This bill requires health insurance plans in New York to cover speech therapy for stuttering when recommended by a physician. It applies to all medical, major medical, and comprehensive insurance policies, mandating full coverage for both habilitative (learning new skills) and rehabilitative (regaining skills) speech therapy provided by licensed professionals. Insurers cannot limit coverage by visit count or duration for this service. The bill excludes coverage if therapy is already provided through school-based plans (like IEPs), but allows supplemental coverage outside schools with a physician referral.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action Jun 10, 2025

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What changed between versions

S3654 → S3654A · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand its scope and add important clarifications about coverage for speech therapy for stuttering. The changes include updating the bill number, adding committee reporting status, and significantly revising the language to clarify which insurance policies must cover the therapy, who can provide it, and when coverage can be denied.

Scope change

The bill now applies to a broader range of insurance policies (including medical, major medical, and comprehensive-type coverage) rather than just accident and health insurance, and clarifies that coverage can be denied if services are already covered under individualized family service or education plans.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the required referral from a general health care provider to a physician, and changed who can perform the therapy from a general health care provider to a health care professional licensed under New York's education law.

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

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit exceptions allowing coverage denial when speech therapy is already being provided through an individualized family service plan or individualized education plan.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from the one hundred twentieth day after becoming law to January 1st of the year following the law's enactment.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 10, 2025

Committee

COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

upper

May 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 3654A

upper

May 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE

upper

May 5, 2025

Committee

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO INSURANCE

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors