An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, further providing for speech therapy for stuttering.
HB 949 requires health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy for childhood stuttering and apraxia. This applies to all health insurance policies issued, renewed, or filed with the state within 180 days of the law's effective date. The bill defines "childhood stuttering" (ages 2-6) and "apraxia" (a neurological speech disorder), specifying coverage must follow standard policy terms like medical necessity and cost-sharing. It explicitly excludes school-based therapy covered solely through an individualized education program (IEP). The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 18, 2025
Last action Mar 18, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Insurance
lower
1 primary · 20 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Brandon Markosek
DDemocratic
Co
Anita Kulik
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Sanchez
DDemocratic
Co
Bob Freeman
DDemocratic
Co
Carol Hill-Evans
DDemocratic
Co
Dan Deasy
DDemocratic
Co
Dan Miller
DDemocratic
Co
Ed Neilson
DDemocratic
Co
Jeanne McNeill
DDemocratic
Co
Joe Hohenstein
DDemocratic
Co
John Inglis
DDemocratic
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