ORLANDO, FL — Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani (D–Orlando) and Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D–Orlando) today announced the filing of legislation to ensure comprehensive, equitable coverage for stuttering treatment across Medicaid, private insurance, group health plans, and HMOs in Florida.
“Floridians who stutter have faced unnecessary barriers to care, barriers that delay treatment, disrupt progress, and reinforce stigma,” said Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani. “This bill is about dignity, access, and recognizing that speech therapy is not optional; it is essential health care. No one should be denied the tools they need to communicate, learn, and fully participate in their community.”
The legislation would require coverage for both habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy for children and adults who stutter, whether treatment is delivered in person or via telehealth, and would prohibit arbitrary limits on visits, annual caps, or restrictive utilization requirements such as prior authorization. It also ensures coverage regardless of whether the stuttering is classified as developmental.
“Communication is foundational to education, employment, and self-confidence,” said Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith. “When the state allows limits or denials of speech therapy, we are limiting opportunity. This legislation affirms that people who stutter deserve consistent, uninterrupted care, without having to fight their insurance company every step of the way.”
Floridians who stutter and their families say the impact of insurance denials goes far beyond health care. It affects school performance, job opportunities, and mental well-being. Kevin Chambers, an Orlando resident who shared this bill proposal with state lawmakers, added: “Speech therapy changed my life, but access was always uncertain. This bill means people like me can focus on our voices—not on whether our insurance will deny us care or cut us off.”
The bill is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, pending passage and approval. In the United States, approximately 3 million people stutter, which is about 1% of the population. Though the impacted community is small, access to care is huge.
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