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AB 169

Relating to: various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elijah Behnke and 10 co-sponsors

Nevada requires most regulated health plans to cover habilitative/rehabilitative speech-language pathology for stuttering in insureds under 26, with no annual caps or utilization l

Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82
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Bill Summary · AB 169

AB 169 — Summary (Chapter 462, 2025)

Status: Enacted (Chapter 462). Approved by Governor June 10, 2025. Effective for policies delivered/issued/renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Purpose / Intent

Require certain public and private health insurance policies and health plans regulated in Nevada to cover habilitative and rehabilitative speech‑language pathology as a treatment for stuttering for insureds under age 26, and to limit insurers’ ability to restrict or manage those benefits.

Key provisions

  • Coverage requirement

    • Insurers offering individual and group health insurance policies must include coverage for habilitative and rehabilitative speech‑language pathology when used to treat stuttering for insureds who are less than 26 years of age.
    • The requirement applies to many state‑regulated plans, including Medicaid, but explicitly excludes the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP).

  • Prohibitions on limits and management

    • Insurers may not set a maximum annual limit on these benefits (including limits on number of annual visits).
    • Insurers may not limit coverage based on the cause of the stuttering.
    • Insurers may not subject these benefits to medical management techniques (defined to include step therapy, prior authorization, and cost‑based categorization).

  • Scope and definitions

    • “Habilitative” services: help a person keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living.
    • “Rehabilitative” services: help restore or improve lost or impaired skills and functioning.

  • Administrative and enforcement authority

    • The Commissioner of Insurance may require domestic insurers issuing policies to out‑of‑state residents to meet Nevada standards and may suspend or revoke certificates of HMOs or take similar action against other insurers for noncompliance.
    • Adds language clarifying that the mandate does not apply to limited benefit or specified‑disease/life policies and prevents the Division of Insurance from interpreting otherwise.

Who is affected

  • Beneficiaries: insureds under age 26 with stuttering who are covered by Nevada‑regulated individual, group, and certain public plans (including Medicaid).
  • Payers/providers: private health insurers and health plans subject to Nevada law (PEBP excluded); speech‑language pathologists who provide habilitative/rehabilitative services.
  • Employers: when they provide health benefits, employer‑sponsored plans subject to state coverage requirements may be affected.

Fiscal and federal considerations

  • Fiscal notes: The bill was marked “Effect on State: Yes” and “May have Fiscal Impact” on local government; it contains an unfunded mandate.
  • Federal defrayal / EHB: Nevada Division of Insurance reviewed the measure and concluded the required SLP services fall under the existing Essential Health Benefit (EHB) category for “rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices,” and therefore — under current federal guidance — do not trigger federal defrayal payments. The Division clarified its original fiscal note did not anticipate state defrayal liability for this bill in its current form.
  • Amendments during session removed PEBP from coverage to address fiscal/funding concerns.

Timeline / legislative actions (selected)

  • Introduced: Jan 8, 2025 (prefiled Jan 31)
  • Assembly passage: Mar 20, 2025
  • Senate passage (as amended): May 30, 2025
  • Enrolled: June 6, 2025
  • Approved by Governor: June 10, 2025
  • Chaptered: June 11, 2025

Practical effect

Beginning Jan 1, 2026, most Nevada‑regulated health policies must cover speech‑language pathology for stuttering for people under 26 without annual caps, cause‑based exclusions, or certain utilization management techniques — increasing access to SLP services for young people who stutter while raising compliance and potential cost considerations for insurers and state oversight entities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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