SB 231

This bill requires a health benefit plan that amends, renews, or delivers a policy of coverage on or after July 1, 2025, and that provides coverage for habilitative services, to provide coverage for habilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, regardless of whether the stuttering is classified as developmental. This bill requires a he alth benefit plan that amends, renews, or delivers a policy of coverage on or after July 1, 2025, and that provides coverage for rehabilitative services, to provide coverage for rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering. This bill requi res a health benefit plan that amends, renews, or delivers a policy of coverage on or after July 1, 2025, and that provides coverage for both habilitative services and rehabilitative services, to provide the coverage as described above. This bill further provides that the coverage required by this bill:  Must not be subject to any maximum annual benefit limit, including any limits on the number of visits an insured may make to a speech-language pathologist.  Must not be limited based on the type of disease, injury, disorder, or other medical condition that resulted in the stuttering.  Must not be subject to utilization review or utilization management requirements, including prior authorization or a determination that the speech therapy services are medically necessary.  Must include coverage for speech therapy provided in person and via telehealth. This bill applies to the state insurance plan; a policy or contract for health insurance coverage provided under the TennCare medical assistance program; and a policy or contract for health insurance coverage provided under the CoverKids program. ON MARCH 24, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 231, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require t he Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing and potential effects of enacting the insurance coverage requirements proposed in Senate Bill 231 of the 114 th General Assembly, a s originally filed with the chief clerk of the senate on January 21, 2025. TACIR must publish a report of its findings and recommendations and deliver a copy of the report to the chief clerk of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the legislative librarian no later than July 31, 2026.