Congressmen Shomari C. Figures of Alabama and Addison McDowell of North Carolina introduced a bipartisan bill this week aimed at expanding early stuttering detection and treatment for young children.

The Kidd’s Stuttering Act would require mandatory screenings for ages two to six and guarantee Medicaid and CHIP coverage for speech therapy according to a news release.

Figures said he was proud to work with McDowell and former NBA player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who has spent recent years advocating for stuttering awareness.

“As a father and an advocate for families, I am proud to work with Congressman Addison McDowell and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to introduce legislation to better support children and families,” Figures said in the release. “We know that early intervention can make all the difference in a child's speech development, their confidence and their overall well-being. This legislation is an important step in providing families with the support and medical coverage they need and deserve.”

McDowell said the proposal would give families access to timely detection and intervention.

“I’m proud to introduce the Kidd’s Stuttering Act. This bill makes early stuttering detection available to kids on Medicaid and CHIP, giving us a real chance to identify these issues early on for thousands of children across the country. A four-year-old has a 75% better chance of recovery when we identify it early,” he said. “The work Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has done at the state and national level has already changed lives, and I’m looking forward to helping carry that progress forward legislatively in Congress.”

Kidd-Gilchrist championed the effort after backing similar bipartisan measures that passed in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Nevada.

“I am grateful for the chance to support this important work as we push to make early screenings and therapy available to every child that stutters,” he said. “Families should not have to fight for basic care that helps to make a difference in their child’s future. I know the difference it can make in a child’s life and it's much needed.”

Childhood-onset stuttering usually appears between ages two and five. About 20% of children who stutter do so for more than a year and 1% of cases, estimated at roughly 3 million people in the United States, persist into adulthood. Specialists say earlier identification can strengthen communication skills, boost confidence and support long-term academic and social development.

Under the Kidd’s Stuttering Act, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would be required to add stuttering and fluency screening measures to the Child Core Set, a national list of health quality screenings such as vision exams, hearing tests and developmental checks. The legislation would not prescribe a specific method for screening but would require states to include one.

The proposal also directs CMS to require stuttering screenings during Medicaid well-child visits for ages two through six. It mandates Medicaid and CHIP coverage for speech therapy, setting a minimum coverage standard to ensure stuttering treatment is not capped below other speech fluency disorders. Private insurers would not be affected.

More information can be found at https://figures.house.gov.