Kidd’s Stuttering Act

HR 6364 — Summary and Analysis

Overview
- Bill number and title: HR 6364, “To amend titles XI, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act with respect to screening for childhood onset fluency disorders, and to require coverage of certain speech therapy services under Medicaid and CHIP.”
- Purpose (as stated): To establish screening for childhood onset fluency disorders and to require coverage of certain speech therapy services through Medicaid and CHIP, by amending the Social Security Act.
- Status and timeline: Introduced in the House on December 2, 2025. Referred the same day to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Key Provisions (as described)
- Screening for childhood onset fluency disorders:
- The bill would amend Titles XI, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to require screening for childhood onset fluency disorders.
- Details such as who conducts the screening, the age range, frequency, and screening standards are not provided in the available summary and would be defined in the bill text or subsequent committee actions.
- Coverage of speech therapy services under Medicaid and CHIP:
- The bill would require coverage of certain speech therapy services for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries.
- The term “certain” suggests a defined scope of speech-language pathology services (e.g., evaluations and therapy for fluency disorders), but specific service types, frequency limits, reimbursement rates, and exemptions are not specified in the information provided.
- Amendments to the Social Security Act:
- The changes would involve Titles XI (Medicare provisions, generally relating to health programs and funding), Title XIX (Medicaid), and Title XXI (CHIP) to implement screening requirements and coverage mandates.
- Implementation considerations (implicit):
- States administering Medicaid and CHIP would need to align policies with the screening and coverage requirements.
- Federal/state funding and administration implications would follow SSA amendments, subject to future clarification in the bill text and regulatory guidance.

Affected Parties
- Children and families: Specifically those with or at risk for childhood onset fluency disorders (e.g., stuttering), who would benefit from screening and therapy coverage.
- Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and healthcare providers: Potentially impacted by new screening duties and expanded reimbursement eligibility.
- State Medicaid programs and CHIP: Required to incorporate screening protocols and provide covered speech therapy services.
- Federal agencies: SSA-related program administrators and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would oversee implementation and compliance.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations
- Current status: Introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (as of December 2, 2025).
- Next steps (typical legislative path): Committee consideration and possible markup, floor debate and votes in the House, potential reconciliation with any Senate counterpart, and, if passed, presidential action. The bill’s exact timelines would depend on committee action and legislative priorities.

Notes
- The description here reflects the information available at introduction. The actual bill text would provide precise definitions, scope, eligibility, cost considerations, and implementation timelines.