HB 5102
Relating to coverage for the treatment of stuttering
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to ensure that health insurance policies in West Virginia cover treatment for stuttering, specifically habilitative speech therapy. It mandates that policies, including those offered by health maintenance organizations, provide coverage for this type of therapy regardless of whether the stuttering is classified as developmental. The bill also removes restrictions on the amount of visits an insured can make and prohibits limitations based on the cause of the stuttering or utilization review requirements. Telehealth coverage is also included.
Key provisions
- Requires health insurance policies to cover habilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering.
- Applies to policies offered by health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
- Eliminates annual benefit limits and restrictions on the number of speech therapy visits.
- Prohibits coverage limitations based on the cause of stuttering.
- Removes utilization review or utilization management requirements for speech therapy services.
- Includes coverage for speech therapy provided via telehealth.
- Specifies telehealth coverage requirements, including compliance with HIPAA privacy provisions.
- Extends coverage for habilitative speech therapy to school-age children up to age 18.
Who is affected
- Individuals with stuttering
- Health insurance companies
- Healthcare providers (speech-language pathologists)
- Parents of children with stuttering
- West Virginia residents
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