Committee moves bill to require insurance coverage for stuttering therapy, including telehealth, to Finance

The Senate Health committee voted to report House Bill 3090 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass as amended and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Counsel described the bill as requiring health‑benefit plans to provide coverage for habilitative and rehabilitative services, including speech therapy for stuttering, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and stated the coverage would be exempt from co‑payment requirements and could not be subject to annual benefit limits or utilization review. Counsel said coverage must include both in‑person and telehealth services and that the bill would apply to private insurance, Medicaid and PEIA.

Delegate Matt Rohrbach (Cabell County), the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the goal is early intervention: when stuttering is caught and treated in early childhood, therapy produces the most benefit, and current programs reach only a fraction of eligible children. Rohrbach said the statute aims to expand access to therapy so families can secure treatment earlier.

Committee counsel noted three fiscal notes in the packet: the Insurance Commissioner’s office reported no fiscal impact to that office but lacked data on premium impacts; the Bureau for Medical Services said no fiscal impact because it already provides these services; and PEIA estimated $156,000 for additional sessions under the agency’s assumptions. The committee adopted a technical committee amendment and voted to report the bill to the full Senate with double committee reference to Finance.